Thousands of people marched through the streets of Toronto Sunday afternoon, as part of the annual Khalsa Day Celebrations.

The event celebrates the birth of Sikhism, and tens of thousands of Sikhs and those eager to learn about their culture were on hand to take part.

Khalsa Day is designed to mark Vaisakhi, or the Sikh New Year, with traditional music, hymns, prayers, and food served from the langar, a communal kitchen

The highly popular parade was expected to draw a large and diverse crowd.

“People come from all over GTA, outside all the way to Windsor, from Montreal, Ottawa, some of the bordering towns across New York,” an organizer told 680News. “People come from wide and far.”

The parade left from the Exhibition Grounds just after 1 p.m..

“The parade will start exactly at 1:15 p.m. from C.N.E. Better Living Centre, it will come across Lakeshore East, continue north on York up to University and finish up at Nathan Philips Square at approximately 3:15 to 3:30 p.m.,” the organizer added.

Events also took place the C.N.E. Better Living Centre beginning at 9 a.m.

Federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair were among the government dignitaries who said they would attend.

The event has grown since 1986, its inaugural year as an official parade in the City of Toronto, when 2,000 people turned out.

Participants were asked to bring non-perishable food items for the annual food drive by Sikh youth for Daily Bread Food Bank.