The first weekend of November, Yuba City hosts an annual Guru Gadee inauguration Nagar Kirtan, or parade. Over 100,000 Sikh devotees and onlookers attend. The event begins Saturday with assembling the floats for Sunday’s parade. Kirtan and worship services are held in the Yuba City gurdwara which serves langar throughout the weekend. Langar is paid for by donations and prepared by volunteers and is completely free of charge to everyone. Many local and visiting business or individual families also prepare and distribute langar in the streets during the procession. A float bearing the Guru Granth Sahib heads the procession preceded by the Panj Pyara, flag bearers and devotees sweeping the streets. Floats representing gurdwaras and Sikh sangat (fellowships) from all around California follow behind the Guru Granth Sahib. Many are filled with devotees singing hymns whose words are verses from Guru Granth Sahib. Youth groups and members of local school clubs carry banners in the parade.
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