Sikh families are setting up food stands in the streets and politicians are pulling their kurtas from the closet as Vancouver prepares for today's massive Vaisakhi celebration.

This year, there's a twist: for the first time, an LGBT group of people of South Asian ancestry, Sher Vancouver, is participating in the annual parade through South Vancouver.

B.C. Liberal Leader Christy Clark and hordes of her candidates will no doubt also be in attendance.

B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan is also likely to be at the parade joined by several NDP candidates.

It starts at 11 a.m. at the Ross Street Temple before travelling along Southeast Marine Drive to Main Street, up to East 49th Avenue, then east to Fraser Street before winding its way back to the temple.

Vaisakhi is the traditional spring harvest festival in India celebrated by all faiths. But for Sikhs, it carries special significance because it also commemorates the founding of the Khalsa, which was a military order, in Punjab in 1699. protected people of different faiths from being forcibly converted to Islam by the Moguls.

Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th and final guru, created the Khalsa and remains an inspiration to many Sikhs to this day.

His father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was beheaded for refusing to be converted to Islam.

Guru Gobind Singh also introduced the five Ks: Kesh (uncut hair), Khanga (a wooden comb), Kara (an iron or steel bracelet), Kirpan (a sword), an Kacchera (short breeches) that he felt should would be worn by members of the faith.

One of the highlights of the annual Vaisakhi parade is all the delicious food that is given away for free by families and restaurant owners along the parade route.

It reflects Punjabi hospitality and symbolizes founder Guru Nanak's belief that all people are equal.