Glitz and glamour marked Toronto’s India Day celebration
Led by Bollywood actress Neetu Chandra, they participated in a grand parade along the streets of Toronto, accompanied by marching bands and nine floats representing several Indian states.
The day-long cultural extravaganza started with the unfurling of the Indian Tricolour followed by singing of the Indian and Canadian national anthems.
Consul General of India, Dinesh Bhatia said, “It is just not an Independence Day celebration but also about the celebration of the world’s oldest civilization and its diversity.”
Bhatia, who joined the diplomatic mission in Toronto five months back, said that he wanted to make India Day celebration as grand as the one organised in New York. “Toronto has the largest concentration of the Indian diaspora anywhere in North America. So why shouldn't be the India Independence Day celebrations be the biggest here?" he said.
Fans thronged the Zee Pavilion to meet and click pictures with ace television actor Sabbir Ahluwalia, who is seen on a number of popular soaps on Zee TV.
Jagpreet Bajwa and Kingshuk Chatterjee, finalists of the popular Indian television singing talent show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, entertained all with their rendezvous collections.
Over 250 artists showcased their talents in the form of song and dance all throughout the day.
Apart from the Bollywood connection, Canada’s top leaders including MPs, MPPs and Mayor John Tory also attended the festival.
Patrick Brown, Ontario’s opposition leader, who is considered a close ally of India in Indo-Canadian politics, donned a Modi like jacket, described himself as a big fan of the Indian Prime Minister, and said, "I have been to India not one time, not two times, not three times...I have been to India sixteen times”, said Brown, “In 2011, they made me an honorary citizen of Gujarat...so I am half Gujju.”
Dipika Damera, the Indian-origin Minister for Seniors in the Ontario Ministry praised India's unity in diversity.
No Indian celebration is complete without food and large crowds were seen gathering around kiosks selling Pani puri and Samosas, idli and dosa, chole chawal, vada pav, pav bhaji, Gota, dhokla and many more. To beat the heat, Indian drinks such as Mango lassi and freshly squeezed sugarcane juice were on offer.
Reporting by Debarati Mukherjee
Images: India Day Celebration, Toronto. Canada
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