‘Ganga Aarti' performed on banks of Canada's Credit River, video divides Internet

India Today

2 days ago

A video of the Indian community performing 'Ganga Aarti' along Canada's Credit River has gone viral, sparking both praise and criticism online.The Indian diaspora recreated the sacred Ganga Aarti ritual on the banks of the Credit River earlier this week. The event, organised by Radio Dhishum, took place at Erindale Park in Mississauga and saw several devotees gather in traditional attire.advertisementThe Indian Consulate in Toronto, in a post on X, shared pictures of the event and confirmed that Consul Sanjeev Saklani attended the ceremony. 'Consul Sanjeev Saklani represented the Consulate at the Ganga Aarti, a soulful evening of divine chants and pious mantras at the banks of the Credit River at Erindale Park, Mississauga organized by Team @RadioDhishum,' the post reads.
Take a look at the post here: The video of the event, shared by Priyanka Gupta on Instagram, went viral soon after. 'In all these 10 years in Canada, this was the most magical evening,' she wrote, calling it a 'slice of India' recreated thousands of miles away.Gupta added that the rituals - from Aarti thalis to devotional music and mantras - made the ceremony feel like home. 'Under the open skies of Canada, we weren't NRIs. We were just Indians, connected, grounded, and grateful,' she said in her caption.Take a look at her post here: Watch the video here: As the video gained traction, users flooded the comment section with mixed reactions.While several users applauded the organisers for keeping their roots alive, others expressed concern about performing such rituals in a foreign country.'Stop this please. This is not even the Ganga to perform Ganga Aarti,' one user wrote, questioning the environmental implications. Another user added, 'Doing Aarti in front of any river doesn't make it Ganga Aarti. If you crave it so much, return to your own country.'On the other hand, a section of the internet appreciated the celebration of tradition. 'Har Har Gange. What a feel through this reel,' one comment read. 'What a beautiful coverage. We are overwhelmed,' another user said.See the comments here: While the Ganga Aarti in Mississauga was a heartfelt attempt to stay connected to Indian traditions abroad, it sparked a larger debate about cultural expression and context, leaving the internet divided.- Ends