Sikhs are counting down the days to the festival which marks one of the most important dates in their calendar.

Vaisakhi will take place later this month but the countdown begins tomorrow (Saturday) with a flag-raising ceremony on Community Square, Gravesend.

The event, hosted by the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara committee, is set to take place outside the Civic Centre at 11am, with a few hundred expected to attend.

The annual tradition usually takes place a week before Vaisakhi, the biggest religious holiday in the Sikh calendar. The Sikh flag will remain raised until after the festival ends.

GNDG's general secretary Jagdev Singh Virdee said: "The first time we did it was in 1999 in Gravesend. For that year we actually made five flags, and we had all five fly which was rather good but since then, every year we've just raised one."

To avoid clashing with Easter next weekend, this year's ceremony will fall a little earlier and prominent figures including Gravesham mayor Cllr Peter Scollard and senior gurdwara committee members will be present.

The religious proceedings and flag raising will take place in the morning, followed by refreshments of samosas and tea while the afternoon will be filled with cultural celebrations.

Guests will be able to enjoy demonstrations of Gatka, which are Sikh martial arts, children singing religious hymns known as shabads, and performances by folk dance group, Four by Four Bhangra and Jugnu Bhangra.

Although the day will be lively, it is a relatively small event compared to the Vaisakhi festival which is due to take place on April 15.

Jagdev said of the main celebration: "There'll be a big procession through the town, which will be followed by the mela in the grounds of Gurdwara.

"There will be a big funfair and lots of stalls selling things, giving things away and lots of food, so that is a big celebration."

Thousands are expected to join in the major festivities as they rejoice and celebrate the birth of their collective faith with music and colourful outfits.

Vaisakhi is a celebration of the creation of the Khalsa – a collective of committed Sikhs who are leaders and defenders of the Sikh way.