A special Sikh celebration will be held in Whitwick on Saturday.

Visitors to the Hall Lane Methodist Church will be able to mark Vaisakhi.

Organisers are inviting people to come along and learn about its significance, ask questions and delve into the vibrant culture surrounding the occasion.

The idea is to get a better understanding of the Sikh cultures and meet the local community in general.

It will take place between 12-1pm and it is part of one of the biggest religious festivals in Sikhism.

Vaisakhi marks the event that solidified the religion as a faith - which is the formation of the Khalsa. 

It is seen as a spring harvest celebration primarily in Punjab and Northern India.

While it is culturally significant as a festival of harvest, in many parts of India, Vaisakhi is also the date for the Indian Solar New Year.

People gather to socialise and share festive foods.

It began in 1699 when the 10th guru of the religion Dhan Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Ji challenged the people of Punjab with a sword to go into the tent if they were prepared to give their life for the Sikh religion.

This was the start of the Sikh baptism ceremony. Five men stepped forward to go into the tent and Guru Gobind Singh came out of alone with blood on his sword. 

The crowd thought the men had died, but they came out alive wearing Turbans.

The 'Beloved Five' were then all baptised into the Khalsa as Guru Gobind Singh sprinkled them with amrit - which is sugar water.

This ritual became the basis of the Sikh baptism ceremony and many Sikhs choose to get baptised on Vaisakhi as a sign of devotion to the faith even until this day.

It follows on from a "pop-up Gurdwara" which was held last November at the same venue near Coalville.