FAITH leaders in Birmingham are at loggerheads because a huge Sikh festival march clashes with the biggest religious day of the Christian calender – Easter Sunday.
Some churches in Handsworth have instructed solicitors to look into the issue after it emerged that the Vaisakhi celebrations would also take place on Sunday, April 24.
They said they were concerned Easter worshippers would be unable to reach church services due to road closures for the Vaisakhi event, which is normally attended by around 90,000 Sikhs.
The clash caused anger among some community members after the same problem cropped up in 2003.
Several meetings between the faith leaders chaired by Bishop Joe Aldred failed to reach an agreement and more talks are planned.
Bishop Aldred, of the Church of God and Prophecy and a member of Churches Together in England, said Vaisakhi clashed with Easter Sunday several years ago.
“Back then we approached the council and said this was unfortunate for many reasons – mainly as Easter Sunday is the key celebration in the Christian calender,” he said.
“On this day a lot of people who don’t go to church regularly attend and, even with restricted road closures and using special passes, it doesn’t address the issue.
“We put our arguments to the Sikh organisers and they moved it by a week and there was an understanding this wouldn’t happen again.”
A meeting was held at the start of this year and a letter was sent to Birmingham City Council from church leaders outlining their concerns.
But, when an agreement was not reached by last week, a solicitor’s letter was sent to the council.
Bishop Aldred said: “The Christians made one fundamental request, feeling Vaisakhi celebrations which included road blockages were incompatible with the freedom of Christians, particularly on Easter Sunday, to get to their place of worship freely.
“Therefore the request was to change the date.
“The Sikh organisers said they could limit road closures but Christians did not feel these were helpful concessions.
“If the two clash in this way, which means Christians can’t get to church on their special day, Christians will be somewhat angry and infuriated.
“When nothing was resolved, it was agreed by some of the Christian leaders to consult a solicitor over the council’s responsibility to ensure no one faith group was given priority over another.
