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TORONTO: In one of the biggest celebrations of India’s Independence Day in Toronto in recent years, thousands of people, including top leaders and celebrities, joined the day-long festivities at Yonge-Dundas Square in the heart of the biggest city of Canada.
As its Grand Parade Marshal, Bollywood actress Neetu Chandra led the India Day parade which included nine colourful floats for the first time in five years. Indian television actor and host Shabir Ahluwalia was the chief guest.
“Last year, I was the Grand Parade Marshal in New York, and this year I am honoured to be here with you for India Day in Toronto,’’ said Neetu Chandra who surprised everyone when she said she holds two black belts in Taekwondo.
Put together by Panorama India with the support of the Indian Consulate General and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), the day-long cultural extravaganza showcased India’s diversity through about 250 artists with their diverse performances.
Opening the celebrations with the unfurling of the Indian flag and the singing of the Indian and Canadian national anthems, Indian consul general Dinesh Bhatia said this celebrations is not just about India’s 69th Independence Day. It is also about the celebrations of the world’s oldest civilization and its diversity.
India is the most diverse country in the world, with 29 very diverse states and 20 official languages, said Bhatia. It is also the third largest and fastest growing economy in the world, he added.
The Indian consul general said when he took charge at the Toronto consulate came five months ago, he wanted to ramp up the India Day celebrations to make them as big as 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.
Anu Srivastava, chairperson of Panorama India which brought together over 50 Indo-Canadian bodies together to celebrate the day, said it is one of the biggest celebrations as nine floats have been included in the parade for the first time in five years.
Dipika Damerla, who is minister for seniors in the Ontario ministry, said every day should be a day of celebrations for the Indians. India has so much to celebrate because it is one of the oldest civilizations of the world. “Sixty-nine years is just a blip” on this ancient civilization, she said. Damerla also read the message from her Premier Kathleen Wynne for the occasion.
Ontario opposition leader Patrick Brown, who is considered the closest friend of India in Canadian politics, was dressed in Modi-like jacket for the occasion. And he didn’t miss to point this out to the audience who applauded in his praise. Brown said he is a great fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “That’s why I am wearing the Modi jacket today.”
The crowd cheered him when Brown said, “I have been to India not one time, not two times, not three times…I have been to India sixteen times.”
With a chuckle, he added, “In 2011, they made me an honorary citizen of Gujarat…so I am half Gujju.”
Toronto Police chief Mark Saunders praised the Indo-Canadian community for adding to the diversity of Toronto.
Speaking on behalf of the lead sponsor CIBC, Venki Raman said his bank has been participating in India’s Independence Day celebrations for years. “We have deep roots in the Indo-Canadian community. As you remember, we were the presenting sponsor of the biggest Bollywood show IIFA here in 2011 and we have also been sponsor the Indo-Canada of Chamber of Commerce,’’ he said.
Venki Raman, who is vice-president (retail distribution) at CIBC, said, “We believe in diversity and our bank has hired lots of Indians. CIBC Run for the Cure for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation has raised $42 million since 1997 and that benefits the Indo-Canadian community also as others. People can also money to India or many other countries without any cost through our CIBC Global Money Transfer.”
Nearly three dozen stalls, including those selling hot Indian delicacies, turned the heart of Toronto into a mini-India at least for one day.
India’s Independence Day in many western cities is celebrated either in advance or later, depending on the availability of the big venues.
