THOUSANDS of Sikh's from celebrated one of the most important religious festivals of the year at Redbridge's Gurdwara Karamsar on Saturday.

The flagpole outside the the temple in Ilford High Road was lowered and ritually cleansed with yoghurt and water, before a new flag was raised on the pole.

Hundreds of faithful Sikhs then streamed into the main prayer hall, bringing offerings to the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book which is revered as the last living Sikh guru (teacher).

During Vaisakhi the text is read continuously from start to finish, a practise known as Akhand Path, by priests and qualified members of the congregation from the end of March through to the end of April.

Each reading of the book, written in Gurmukhi, a development of the Sanskrit language, takes around 48 hours, and it is read in two hour shifts around 18 times throughout the month.

It continued to be read as hundreds of people filed in between 9am and 9pm on Saturday.

Hymns were also read and chanted, and traditional Indian music was played on the tabla and harmonium.

Food was prepared for everyone to share throughout the day, as it is served at the gurdwara everyday in accordance with the Langa tradition.

Vaisakhi is a time of renewal for the Sikhs, and it marks the day Guru Gobhind Singh, the tenth and final human guru (teacher) of the Sikh religion, founded the religious order, the Khalsa, and gave them a distinct religious identity in 1699.

The Guru gave the first five members of the Khalsa the five emblems worn by Skihs today and commonly known as the Five Ks: Kesh, unshorn hair; Kangha, the wooden comb; Karra, the iron bracelet; Kirpan, the sword; and Kachera, the underwear.

The Gudwara Karamsar is a domed stone temple intricately handcarved by Rajasthani stonemasons and serves the Sikh community throughout Redbridge and neighbouring boroughs.

For more information log on to www.karamsar.org.

See more photographes of the festival in the Guardian picture gallery.