Jared Phanco

Of Southall’s population of 70,000, over 55% are of Indian or Pakistani origin. This has led to the area gaining the affectionate moniker of London’s ‘Little India’. To accommodate the area’s huge Punjabi and Sikh communities, Southall has 10 Sikh Gurdwaras including Sri Guru Singh, the largest Gurdwara outside of India.

In early April, the streets of Southall are transformed by a kaleidoscopic array of colours. The reveller's queue at the many food stalls for free traditional Indian food, as Punjabi music (both vintage folk styles and modern energetic bhangra) blasts from speakers. This vibrant celebration is a commemoration of Vaisakhi, the most important day in the Sikh calendar.