HUNDREDS of Huddersfield Sikhs celebrated the festival of Vaisakhi.

Crowds gathered at the Sikh Temple in Springwood from midday yesterday for the annual procession through the town.

Vaisakhi celebrates the memory of the 10th guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who transformed the Sikhs into a family of soldier saints known as the Khalsa Panth.

It is also celebrated as a harvest festival and as the start of the Sikh new year.

Temple general secretary Inderpal Randhawa said: “I would like to wish everyone a happy Vaisakhi.

“I remind our younger generation of the supreme sacrifice made by our gurus for us to be here now.

“There are more than 700,000 Sikhs in Great Britain making a contribution in every walk of life. Vaisakhi is being celebrated in every major town and city in the country today.”

Gurmid Singh, 40, was at the temple yesterday with his 10-year-old son Harman.

Mr Singh, of Crosland Moor, said: “It is good to be here with my family to celebrate our culture and identity.”

Surinder Singh, 35, also of Crosland Moor, added: “I am proud to be a Sikh. I think we are very brave, honest and kind people.”

Three politicians spoke to the crowd of around 1,000 people before the procession left the Springwood Sikh Temple at around 12.45pm.

Kirklees Council leader Clr Mehboob Khan addressed the festival-goers in Punjabi, passing on his best wishes on behalf of Huddersfield Labour Party.

Conservative Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney said: “Thank you very much for inviting me here today, I really do appreciate it.

“On behalf of Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, I wish you all a very happy Vaisakhi.”

The Mayor of Kirklees Clr Andrew Palfreeman also spoke to the crowd.

The Birstall and Birkenshaw Conservative said: “It’s a privilege to be here today and I wish everyone here a happy Vaisakhi.”

The crowd, many of them dressed in brightly-coloured robes, then left Springwood and marched to the Hindu Temple at Zetland Street before heading to Fartown Sikh Temple.