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Time of India
10 hours 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
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.
