Latest news with #AsianHeritage
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I kissed my fiance goodbye after a wedding rehearsal – two days later cops showed up and my world fell apart
AS my fiancé's coffin was carried from the church, the song By Your Side by Sade played. Jon and I had actually chosen it for our wedding day, but instead I was hearing it at his funeral - the week before we were due to become husband and wife. 4 4 With just three weeks to go before our special day, Jon had died aged 42, and I wasn't sure how to carry on without him. I fell for him instantly when we met in March 2021. Kind, caring and handsome, he made me feel safe and loved. Life hadn't been easy for Jon, who worked as an electrician. He'd suffered from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) since he was a young man, which had taken its toll on his mental health. But by the time I met him, he was receiving professional help and was open with me about the struggles he'd had in the past. We got engaged seven months after meeting. It was quick, but we knew we were meant to be together, so why wait? We began planning our wedding straight away, deciding to keep it small and intimate – a church ceremony in March 2022, followed by a meal in a restaurant with close family and friends. I have Asian heritage, so I chose a white and gold sari as my wedding gown, as well as ordering a veil and booking a hotel for our first night as a married couple. I was widowed at 26 when I was 17 weeks pregnant - I thought my husband had just gone to work early, the truth devastated me The last time I saw Jon was February 3, 2022. We'd attended a wedding preparation class that day, and he wasn't himself. I felt concerned, but wondered if his BDD was making him feel a bit overwhelmed as the big day drew closer, with the attention it would bring. After the class, he came back to my house – we planned to move in together once we were married – and left soon after, still quiet and pensive. He told me he was going to Norfolk the following day to visit a friend, and would see me the day after that. It never crossed my mind, as I kissed him and waved him off, that I'd never see him alive again. Two days later, when he didn't show up, I began to worry as he was always punctual. After a few hours, when I couldn't get through to him on his mobile, I went to his sister's and she contacted Jon's friend in Norfolk, only to discover he hadn't turned up the previous day. Soon after, two police officers arrived at the door, and gently told me and Jon's sister that he'd been found dead in a London hotel room, due to an overdose. I was so shocked, I felt numb – it was impossible to take in the news that he was gone. 4 In the days that followed, planning a funeral while cancelling a wedding was like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. Jon's family and my bridesmaids all helped, but I felt my heart would break with the pain. My wedding sari was with a dressmaker for alterations at the time – I left it there and have never collected it. Jon was buried in late February 2022, a week before our wedding day. The months after his death were the darkest of my life. I suffered from PTSD and depression, and I considered ending my life as my grief was so overwhelming. I quit my job at the charity I worked for, because I couldn't imagine going back to the 'old me'. In late 2022, I began to train as a dog groomer and opened my own business, Love Hounds Bedford. I love my work, and it brings me joy and calm. I also discovered the charity Widowed And Young (WAY), and the solidarity, friendship and understanding from the other members who understood exactly how I was feeling, became so important to me. It's been three years since Jon died, and I think of him every day. I will miss him forever, but I also know he'd be proud I rebuilt my life, finding hope again. Jon never became my husband, but I will always carry him in my heart. EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide. It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign. The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives. Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: 4
CTV News
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Veils of Bollywood celebrates Indian heritage in Montreal
A group of Montrealers is spotlighting Asian heritage through Bollywood dance. It started as a passion for 35-year-old Rameez Karim and it's since become a key part of his life's work. 'I feel that dance is a really important tool to start conversations,' said Karim. He first hit the dance floor when he was five. A flare for creative style and storytelling led the Montrealer to performances at community events and professional companies. Karim founded his own dance company, Veils of Bollywood, in 2019. 'We are really trying to push the boundaries of different artforms coming together, bridging different cultures together, having this type of intercultural exchange, which I find is really, really important - especially at a time like now,' said Karim. Rameez Karim Rameez Karim started "Veils of Bollywood" to celebrate dance and his Indian culture. (Anastasia Dextrene/CTV News) In the middle of Asian Heritage Month, he says India is an essential part of Asia that is sometimes forgotten. Karim welcomes each rehearsal at Studio Bizz as a moment to celebrate his heritage with the community. One treasured moment is the 'namaskaram' salutation, which he performs with his dancers at the beginning and end of each practice. 'At one point we touch the ground because Indian dance is very much connected to the earth and to nature,' he said. 'So because we dance barefoot, we're striking the ground with our feet and we are conscious of this and we're asking the planet, actually if we can dance on her.' Simran Kaur, 33, has been dancing with Veils of Bollywood since day one. For her, the idea of asking for permission has another significance. 'It's really important because a lot of the women in my culture, in my background, didn't have the permission and the privilege to be able to dance this freely, this liberated,' she said. 'It's not just a dance for me, but it's a way to honor all of those women and let them come and dance through me as a as a celebration, as a moment of joy.' Dancers at Veils of Bollywood Dancers at Veils of Bollywood touch the ground before they begin to give thanks. (Anastasia Dextrene/CTV News) There's much joy to be had as the troupe of twelve prepares for a residency at Maison de la Culture in July. They hope their show, 'Dreams of Bollywood,' will help turn up the music on the cultural conversation.
