Thousands of people gathered in South Vancouver around the city's historic Punjabi neighbourhood to celebrate Vaisakhi&nbsp;Saturday.

The rain didn't stop festival-goers from wearing their colourful best.

Vaisakhi 2019

The celebration, which&nbsp;originated as a harvest festival in India's Punjab region hundreds of years ago, is of special significance to Sikh Canadians.&nbsp;

5 things you need to know about Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi celebrations in Vancouver and Surrey are some of the biggest you’ll find anywhere outside of India.

The Sikh celebrations around Vaisakhi mark the annual harvest festival and commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa.

Surrey Vaisakhi 2016

Plenty turned out to enjoy the food and festivities.&nbsp;

Hey everyone! I’m here at Vancouver’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vaisakhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vaisakhi</a> festival. Lots of music, food and politicians too. <a href="https://t.co/rIV0H7QdKp">pic.twitter.com/rIV0H7QdKp</a>

Part of the festivities include service: this means sharing and giving out food and volunteering.

It was wet but, as you can see, thousands still turned out for Vancouver’s annual <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vaisakhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Vaisakhi</a> celebrations. <a href="https://twitter.com/cbcnewsbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cbcnewsbc</a> <a href="https://t.co/8B8gRBNNlX">pic.twitter.com/8B8gRBNNlX</a>

Next week, Surrey hosts its own celebrations.&nbsp;

Women march in the Vaisakhi parade on April 13, 2019.

The Surrey parade starts at the Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar Temple at 12885 - 85 Avenue at 9.30 a.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;April 20. It will wrap up at the same location at approximately 4 p.m.

Marchers in the Vaisakhi parade in Vancouver on April 13, 2019.

Thousands celebrate Vaisakhi in Vancouver under grey skies

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