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Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ganga aarti in Canada leaves attendees emotional, but internet has "genuine" questions
A recent Ganga Aarti ceremony held on the banks of the Credit River in Mississauga, Canada, has gone viral, and not just for its spiritual charm. Organised by Team Radio Dhishum, the event brought together members of the Indian community in traditional attire to perform one of Hinduism's most sacred rituals, usually seen on the banks of the River Ganga in cities like Varanasi, Haridwar, and Rishikesh. The ceremony featured Vedic chants, lighting of diyas (lamps), and ritual offerings, with visuals showing scores of devotees immersed in prayer and devotion. The Consulate General of India in Toronto also attended, with Consul Sanjeev Saklani representing the mission. Sharing images from the evening on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the consulate described it as a "soulful evening of divine chants and pious mantras." Ganga Aarti in Canada: Internet Remains Divided While many praised the ceremony as a beautiful display of Indian culture abroad, others questioned whether it was right to perform Ganga Aarti on a river other than the Ganga. One user commented, 'Credit is not Ganga. What exactly are they worshipping?' Another wrote, 'There is a reason it's called Ganga Aarti. Doing it anywhere else changes its meaning.' However, several people came to the organisers' defence. Supporters called it a symbolic gesture, saying the ritual was more about intention and faith than geography. 'Faith is about intention, not coordinates,' a user responded, applauding the diaspora for staying connected to their roots. Indian Diaspora Celebrates Cultural Pride in Canada Many attendees said the ceremony was an emotional experience. An Indian-origin resident Priyanka Gupta shared a video on Instagram, calling it 'the most magical evening in my 10 years of living in Canada.' Her caption read, 'Not on the ghats of Varanasi or Haridwar, but right here in Canada.' Live Events The visuals, with chants of 'Har Har Gange' echoing across the Canadian park, moved many online. For Indians living abroad, events like these are not only spiritual, they are a powerful reminder of home. Organisers Say Event Was Held With Cultural Respect The event was conducted with respectful rituals and environmental caution, with no reports of ecological damage or law violations. The goal, supporters say, was to offer diaspora communities a space to express their faith, especially for younger generations growing up away from India. This isn't the first time an Indian cultural ritual has stirred online debate. A few weeks earlier, Indian tourists made headlines for performing Garba inside Dubai's Burj Khalifa, which also attracted mixed responses. Inputs from agencies
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Indian NRIs recreate Ganga Aarti in Canada, internet reacts with pride and divided opinions
Source: X In a moving celebration of Indian spirituality, the Indian diaspora in Canada recently hosted a grand Ganga Aarti on the banks of the Credit River in Mississauga, echoing the sacred rituals performed in Varanasi, Rishikesh, and Haridwar. The event, organized by Radio Dhishum and attended by the Indian Consulate in Toronto, brought together scores of devotees clad in traditional attire. It was a profound display of cultural pride and community bonding far from home. While the ceremony was widely praised online, it also stirred debate over environmental concerns and the appropriateness of replicating sacred Indian rituals abroad. Ganga Aarti in Canada connects Indian community to their roots The Ganga Aarti was conducted in full ceremonial fashion by Radio Dhishum, a Canadian radio platform promoting Indian culture. The presence of Consul Sanjeev Saklani from the Indian Consulate in Toronto added official recognition to the event. Sharing visuals on X (formerly Twitter), the Consulate described it as a 'soulful evening of divine chants and pious mantras.' With incense, lamps, and river offerings, the ritual mirrored the ambience of Ganga-side aartis in India, signifying how deeply spiritual traditions are rooted within the global Indian community. The ceremony struck an emotional chord with many attendees. One participant, Priyanka Gupta, shared a viral video on Instagram, describing it as the most magical evening in her ten years of living in Canada. 'Not on the ghats of Varanasi or Haridwar, but right here in Canada,' she captioned. For many, the chants of 'Har Har Gange' reverberating across the Canadian park offered a rare, poignant reminder of home. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The event showcased how spiritual practices can be a powerful link to identity, especially for those living thousands of miles from their native country. Source: X Ganga aarti in Canada sparks mixed reactions over cultural pride and ritual authenticity While many praised the event for preserving Indian culture abroad, others questioned its symbolic authenticity. Supporters celebrated the diaspora's effort to keep traditions alive. 'Happy to see India and Canada culturally getting connected,' wrote one user. Another commented, 'What a beautiful coverage. We are so overwhelmed hearing this.' However, the event also drew criticism. Some online users felt performing Ganga Aarti outside India, especially in a different ecological and cultural setting, diminished its religious sanctity. One comment read, 'There is a reason it is called Ganga Aarti. Doing it in front of any river doesn't make it the same.' Others suggested that such rituals should be practiced within their original geographic and religious context. Ganga Aarti in Canada helps Indian diaspora reconnect with roots, amid debate For many Indians abroad, participating in religious ceremonies like Ganga Aarti is more than spiritual—it's a way to reclaim cultural identity and build community. In multicultural societies like Canada, these events help younger generations connect with their roots. They also serve as moments of pride for the diaspora, illustrating how Indian traditions can flourish globally while remaining rooted in their essence. Despite the debate, the event affirmed that identity is not limited by geography. For participants, the ritual reaffirmed their spiritual values and cultural connection, regardless of the continent on which it was practiced. In addition to symbolic debates, environmental considerations surfaced. Some critics questioned whether conducting rituals near the Credit River could affect the local ecosystem. Concerns ranged from the ecological impact of offerings to fire safety regulations in public spaces. Although no specific damage was reported, the event reignited broader conversations about how to balance cultural expression with local environmental norms and civic responsibility. Also Read | Inside Zomato's Deepinder Goyal's Rs 52.3 crore ultra-luxury home in Gurugram's DLF Camellias
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
‘Ganga Aarti' performed on banks of Canada's Credit River, video divides Internet
A video of the Indian community performing 'Ganga Aarti' along Canada's Credit River has gone viral, sparking both praise and criticism 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 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 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 a look at her post here: Watch the video here: As the video gained traction, users flooded the comment section with mixed 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 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
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Watch: NRIs perform 'Ganga Aarti' Canadian riverbank; sparks mixed response
Indian's in Canada performing 'Ganga aarti' on the bank of River Credit Indian community performed "Ganga Aarti" on the banks of Credit River in Mississauga, Canada, has drawn mixed reactions on social media. The traditional Hindu ceremony, typically performed on the banks of River Ganga, was organized by Team Radio Dhishum and attended by members of the Indian diaspora dressed in traditional attire. The Consulate General of India, Toronto, shared visuals of the event on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle, noting that Consul Sanjeev Saklani represented the Consulate at what they described as a "soulful evening of divine chants and pious mantras." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo The ceremony included Vedic rituals, mantra chanting, and the floating of lamps on the Credit River, drawing mixed reactions from social media users. While some questioned the appropriateness of performing Ganga Aarti on a different river, with comments like "Credit is not Ganga. What exactly are they worshipping?" others defended it as a symbolic expression of faith and cultural identity. Supporters argued that the ceremony was more about spiritual connection than geographical location, with one user noting, "Faith is about intention, not coordinates." This incident follows a recent similar debate sparked by Indian tourists performing Garba dance inside Dubai's Burj Khalifa.
Mint
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Watch: NRIs recreate Ganga Aarti on Canadian riverbank, stir mixed reactions online
In a heartfelt tribute to Indian traditions, members of the Indian diaspora in Canada recently organised a grand Ganga Aarti along the banks of the Credit River in Mississauga. The event, reminiscent of the iconic rituals held in Varanasi, Rishikesh and Haridwar, brought together scores of devotees dressed in traditional attire. The ceremony was hosted by Radio Dhishum and attended by Consul Sanjeev Saklani from the Indian Consulate in Toronto. The consulate shared glimpses of the event on X, calling it a 'soulful evening of divine chants and pious mantras.' 'Consul Sanjeev Saklani represented the Consulate at the Ganga Aarti… organised by Team @RadioDhishum,' the post read, along with several pictures capturing the spiritual fervour of the evening. One of the attendees, Instagram user Priyanka Gupta, shared a video that has now gone viral. 'In all my 10 years in Canada, this was the most magical evening,' she wrote. 'Not on the ghats of Varanasi or Haridwar, but right here in Canada.' 'Living abroad doesn't mean letting go of who we are. The soulful chants of 'Har Har Gange' echoed across the park,' she added, describing the experience as a moving slice of India brought to life far from home. However, the video sparked mixed reactions online. While many praised the community for keeping Indian traditions alive abroad, some questioned whether such rituals could affect the local environment, with concerns raised about potential pollution of the Credit River. 'Happy to see, India and Canada culturally getting connected,' a user commented. 'What a beautiful coverage. We are so overwhelmed hearing this,' another user wrote. However, several users had a different opinion on the video, 'This is a tad bit too much , where is ganga and where is Canada ? We should be religious but at the same time, think where you are, respect their land and country, doing these things there only shows how fragile and religion dependent we Indians are.' 'Aren't you supposed to have Ganga arti on banks of river 'Ganga'? Don't just make fun of anything, looses the value it holds,' another user wrote. 'There is a reason it is called Ganga Aarti. Doing aarti in front of any river doesn't make it Ganga Aarti. If you crave for it so much, return to your own country and do it,' the third user commented.
