GLASGOW’S streets were awash with colour on Sunday as Sikhs from across Scotland celebrated the festival of Vaisakhi.

Thousands in the community took part in a four-hour-long procession through the city.

The festival marks the beginning of the Sikh new year on April 14 and commemorates the birth of the Sikh Order of the Khalsa, after Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth guru, passed.

The procession always takes on the Sunday before Vaisakhi each year.

Participants marched from the South Side at 9.30am, making their way to all four of the city’s temples, also known as Gurdwaras.

They finally came to a stop at the Central Gurdwara on Berkeley Street at 1.30pm.

Each Gurdwara in Glasgow then served up a free community meal to all visitors, regardless of race, religion or social status.

Scotland currently has eight temples with half of those in Glasgow.

Charandeep Singh, general secretary of Glasgow Gurdwara in Pollokshields, described how the festival is always a highlight for Scottish Sikhs.

He added: “It has a special place in all our hearts because of its ability to bring people together from diverse backgrounds and communities.

“On behalf of the Sikh community, I would like to wish everyone a happy Vaisakhi 2018 and hope that we strive to embody the Sikh values of equality, humanity and justice into all of our lives.”