MORE than a thousand Sikhs from across Bradford will take to the city's streets on Sunday for the annual Vaisakhi celebration parade.

The event celebrates the creation of Sikhism as a collective faith in 1699, and also the start of the Punjabi New Year.

Members of all six of Bradford's gurdwaras will be coming together for this year's Nagar Kirtan.

This year's procession will begin and end at the Gurdwara Amrit Parchar Dharmik Diwan, and will visit each of the city's gurdwaras.

Hardev Singh Sidhu, from Idle, a member of the Ramgarhia Gurdwara in Undercliffe, said he was looking forward to joining his fellow Sikhs on the parade around the city.

"Vaisakhi is very important to Sikhs, it's the most important day in our calendar," he said.

"You could say it is a manifestation of our whole religion, and the whole congregation will be in the procession.

"We normally have about 1,000 people in the parade, maybe more, but it depends on the weather so hopefully we will have some sun."

The Nagar Kirtan consists of the procession walking through the streets singing hymns from the Sikh holy book - the Guru Granth Sahib.

As the parade makes its way round the city, it is likely to cause some disruption on Bradford's roads.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "There will be a rolling road closure on Sunday between 10.30am and 3.30pm, which means as the parade passes through the roads open up again.

"The main roads affected are Shipley Airedale Road, Wakefield Road, Leeds Road and Cutler Heights Lane."

Other events taking place this weekend include the Lord Mayor's Appeal abseil at the Margaret McMillan tower in the city centre from 10am to 4pm tomorrow.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Joanne Dodds will be joined by more than 50 other daredevils as they abseil down the building, with many donning fancy dress for the challenge.

The Lord Mayor said: "I am one of those people who believes that if I am asking people to do something for me then I should at least have a go myself.

"I have to say I don't like heights, so this is going to be a real challenge for me, but all those who have signed up are superheroes in my eyes."

The annual World Heritage weekend also runs on Saturday and Sunday in Saltaire offering a wide variety of events including croquet, a concert, craft activities and clog dancing demonstrations.

Haworth Beer Festival also returns this weekend to the Old School Room in Church Street, and will be open in from Friday to Sunday with a wide selection of ales.