New York City Sikh Parade Khanda Float

A truck pulls a float bearing a giant Khanda down Madison Avenue at the Annual New York City Sikh Parade. The Khanda, or Khalsa Crest, is an important Sikh symbol signifying "piri miri," a concept of spiritual and secular rule introduced by Sixth Guru Har Govind who donned two swords after his father Fifth Guru Arjun Dev's martyrdom at the hand of tyrannical Mughal rulers. The Khanda has come to represent the Sikh coat of arms. The procession is a nagar kirtan event in honor of Vaisakhi Day, the anniversary of the origin of the Khalsa order when the first Amrit initiation ceremony took place.