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April 24, 2001 12:54: THOUSANDS of revellers lined the streets and packed out Gravesend promenade for this year's massive Vaisakhi procession and Mela. The annual festival to celebrate the birth of Sikhism started with a religious ceremony outside the Guru Nanak temple in Clarence Place followed by a huge procession through the streets.
After the parade, crowds of revellers flocked to Fort Gardens where musicians and dancers kept them entertained for hours. In the largest ever gathering of dhol players in Kent, about 50 drummers from Four by Four Dhol Group kicked off the cultural celebrations in the Vaisakhi Mela. The set was followed by special guests, Kamal Kartanya and Amar Arshi, who sang Punjabi folk songs.
Dancers from Four by Four Bhangra Youth Club, supported by Rooh Punjab Dee, strutted their stuff and the finale was a rousing set from B21, smash-hit Bhangra superstars from Birmingham.
Gurvinder Sandher, of North West Kent Racial Equality Council, said: "The whole event was really well attended by people from all backgrounds.
"It was really great to see everybody getting on with each other and enjoying the celebrations."
From: http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/local_london/bexley/news/
