SINGING hymns and with balloons and petals filling the air, Southampton's Sikh community came out yesterday for the city's largest annual procession.

As Christians celebrated Easter Sunday, about a thousand Sikhs paraded through the city centre as part of the Vaisakhi celebrations to mark the 304th anniversary of the birth of the Sikh nation.

Drummers and Sikh priests led a float of people playing traditional Sikh instruments for the four-hour Nagar Kirtan parade - a festival of peace and unity.

People handed out naan breads and drinks as the sea of traditional orange Nishan Sahib flags which accompanied the float, wound its way from the Guru Ravidass Sabha Gurdwara in Northumberland Road, St Mary's, through Nichols Town, Newtown, Inner Avenue and Bevois Valley.

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham and city council officials joined the parade as many people came out of their homes to take pictures and enjoy the atmosphere.

Men, women and children followed the float eating blessed foods and singing traditional Sikh hymns.

Chairman Tarsem Singh-Lekh of the Council of Southampton Gurdwaras, said: "We are celebrating the birth of the Sikh nation in 1699.

"Everybody should be treated the same, as one. We are all human beings created by God.

"As a people we were suffering back in 1699 but the Sikhs rose up against oppression. Sikhs across the world are celebrating today and everybody who wants to is welcome to join us."

Earlier in the day, council representatives joined members of Southampton's Sikh community on the steps of the Civic Centre for the raising of the Nishan Sahib flag, which has the Sikh Khanda symbol on it.

Wearing an orange turban as a mark of respect, Southampton Mayor Brian Parnell raised the flag that will fly outside the Civic Centre from 9am to 5pm each day this week.

Councillor Parnell, said: "Today is all about equality across all colours, genders, races and faiths. We are all equal."