‘Bol Shankar Bhagwan Ki Jai': Indian student's Shiva chant at Canadian graduation goes viral

Indian Express

11 hours ago

Graduation ceremonies across the United States of America and Canada are in full swing, and Indian students are making sure their celebrations are both personal and memorable. Among the many convocation videos going viral, one clip from Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Canada is capturing widespread attention on the Internet, and sparking conversation online.
Rahul Chhillar, an Indian student graduating from the institution, created a moment during his convocation that many will never forget. As he walked on stage to collect his degree, he turned toward the mic and loudly chanted, 'Bol Shankar Bhagwan Ki Jai… Jai Shambhu!' The unexpected chant, an ode to Lord Shiva, took everyone by surprise, especially the faculty on stage. But within seconds, his words echoed back from the audience, with several fellow Indians joining in.
A post shared by R A H U L CHHILLAR (@rahulchhillar34)
Chhillar shared the video on Instagram on June 21, 2025, and it quickly exploded, racking up over 15.2 million views and 2.6 million likes. Reactions, however, were mixed.
Many viewers praised the moment as bold and uplifting, calling it a beautiful expression of faith and identity. One comment said, 'Look how the lady is trying to stop him. She thinks it will embarrass people,' pointing out the reaction of a staff member. Meanwhile, others debated whether a formal academic setting was the right place for such a statement.
The comments section lit up with chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' and praises for the student's devotion. For many, it was a moment of pride and joy – a young man honouring his culture at one of the biggest milestones of his life.
This isn't the only time an Indian student has gone viral during a graduation this season. Another popular video, from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, featured Dinesh Kyama walking on stage holding up Virat Kohli's No. 18 Test jersey. As his name was called, he proudly raised the jersey to the crowd's cheers before collecting his certificate. The gesture came soon after Kohli had announced his retirement from Test cricket, making the moment emotional for fans.