Sikh parade in Turlock a 'huge success'

A Sikh parade held in Turlock this weekend — the first in Stanislaus County — attracted a bigger crowd than organizers had hoped.

Last week, backers of Sunday's parade said they anticipated 1,000 or more people. According to Harinder Grewal, more than 2,000 people came to see the noontime parade at the Sikh temple. "It was a huge success," Grewal said.

Families set up food stalls and volunteers served refreshments to attendees all day.

Grewal said the plan is to make the parade an annual event, with next year's expanding beyond this year's, with a bigger route and more people, both from within the faith and from other cultures."

We want people to know that we are part of this community," Grewal said. "We are very proud to be Sikh Americans."