Supermarket giant Tesco is marking a Sikh festival for the first time and launched its celebrations in Kent.

Its Vaisakhi promotion kicked off on Wednesday, March 27 at the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend.

Across the country, its stores will feature special displays of Indian groceries people may buy for Vaisakhi.

General secretary of the gurdwara, Jagdev Singh Virdee, said: “A lot of these supermarkets have marked Eid and Diwali but not any of the Sikh festivals so this is the first time they are marking it in all their stores.”

The new initiative to honour the Sikh holiday was suggested by Tesco area manager for Kent, Harvey Chatwal.

He said: “Being an ambassador for my religion, and an ambassador for Tesco, I just felt it was bizarre that retail doesn’t celebrate Vaisakhi.

“I think we Sikhs go unnoticed, perhaps because of our humble nature, so I presented it to the CEO and it stemmed from there.”

To mark the celebrations for the first time, the retailer has put a special wrap on a lorry depicting Vaisakhi celebrations.

The truck will make deliveries to various Tesco branches across London and the South-East from its depot in Dagenham.

It made its first appearance at the Guru Nanak Darbar where community members, senior figures and Tesco retail director for convenience south, John Cruikshank, were pictured with it.

Two delivery vans which will deliver online orders to people’s homes have also been decorated and a Tesco team will be serving free food at the gurdwara’s annual Vaisakhi event on Saturday, April 13.

The inclusive step follows a visit by now-former Tesco UK CEO, Jason Tarry, retail director Martin Smith and store director Bartek Blaszak to the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in November last year.

During their trip, they were shown the teachings of Sikhi and the importance of Vaisakhi.

A spokesperson for the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara said: “Their genuine interest in these core Sikh tenets was heartening and marks a positive step towards cultural understanding.”

Sikhs have flocked to social media to show their appreciation for the initiative being taken by Tesco.

One person said: “This is brilliant! Finally, a supermarket recognising a Sikh festival that’s so important to us.”

Another commented: “Excellent. About time they started recognising the Sikh community.”