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India Today
9 hours 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
Mint
12 hours 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.
Mint
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
‘Ganga Aarti on Canadian riverbank' leaves section of internet furious: ‘Insulting'
The Indian community in Canada recently organised a grand Ganga Aarti on the banks of the Credit River in Mississauga, aiming to recreate the spiritual experience of the famed aartis performed in Varanasi, Rishikesh and Haridwar. The event took place earlier this week at Erindale Park and was organised by Radio Dhishum. According to the Indian Consulate in Toronto, Consul Sanjeev Saklani attended the ceremony and represented the Consulate. '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, organised by Team @RadioDhishum,' the Consulate wrote on social media, sharing photos from the event. A video from the ceremony, shared by Instagram user Priyanka Gupta, captured the rituals being carried out by the river. 'Out of all these 10 years in Canada, yesterday we have experienced the best evening, something magical unfolded. Not on the ghats of Varanasi and Haridwar, but right here in Canada,' Ms Gupta wrote in her caption. She added, 'Living abroad doesn't mean letting go of who we are. In fact, it deepens the bond. The soulful chants of 'Har Har Gange' echoing across the park, and devotees gathered in traditional attire, we witnessed the sacred Ganga Aarti, a slice of India, recreated with devotion thousands of miles away.' The video quickly gained attention online and drew mixed reactions. While many appreciated the efforts to keep Indian traditions alive overseas, others questioned the appropriateness of performing the ritual by a river not linked to the Ganges. 'What a beautiful coverage. We are so overwhelmed hearing this,' one user commented. Another wrote, 'Har har Gange. What a feel through this reel.' However, criticism also surfaced. 'Are you guys serious????? Ganga in Canada???? You are insulting the actual Ganga in this way. And if you love this much, then come to India again,' one person remarked. A fourth added, 'Stop this please. This is not even the Ganga River to perform Ganga Aarti. Next, people will start Kumbh Mela here." Despite the divided opinions, the event highlighted how cultural and spiritual traditions continue to be embraced by the Indian diaspora, even thousands of miles from home.
NDTV
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
NRIs Conduct 'Ganga Aarti' On Canadian Riverbank, Social Media Divided
The Indian community in Canada held a grand Ganga Aarti on the banks of Credit River in Mississauga earlier this week. The NRIs organised the rituals to recreate the iconic aartis performed in India, especially in Varanasi, Rishikesh and Haridwar. According to the Indian Consulate in Toronto, the event was organised by Radio Dhshum with Consul Sanjeev Saklani among the attendees. "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, organised by Team @RadioDhishum," the consulate captioned the post whilst sharing photos from the event. 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. @HCI_Ottawa @MEAIndia @diaspora_india — IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) July 8, 2025 A video shared by an Instagram user, Priyanka Gupta, showed the customs performed during the event. "Out of all these 10 years in Canada, yesterday we have experienced the best evening , something magical unfolded. not on the ghats of Varanasi and Haridwar, but right here in Canada," wrote Ms Gupta. "Living abroad doesn't mean letting go of who we are. In fact, it deepens the bond. The soulful chants of 'Har Har Gange' echoing across the park, and devotees gathered in traditional attire, we witnessed the sacred Ganga Aarti, a slice of India, recreated with devotion thousands of miles away," she added. Social media reacts As the video went viral, it received mixed reactions from the social media users, with a section lauding them for celebrating the traditions, while others stating they might be polluting the local river. "What a beautiful coverage. We are so overwhelmed hearing this," said one user, while another added: "Har har Gange. What a feel through this reel." A third commented: "Are you guys serious????? Ganga in Canada???? You are insulting the actual Ganga in this way. And if you love this much, then come to India again." A fourth said: 'Stop this please. This is not even the Ganga River to perform Ganga Aarti. Next, people will start Kumbh Mela here."
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Indians replicate 'Ganga Aarti' on Canadian Riverbank, prompt calls to clean the real Ganga back home
A group of Indians in Canada recreated the Ganga Aarti. The event occurred on the banks of the Credit River in Mississauga. Radio Dhishum hosted the event on July 4. The ceremony included bhajans, shloka chanting, aarti thalis, and diyas. Priyanka Gupta shared a video of the event on Instagram. The organisers may make this an annual tradition. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A group of Indians in Canada recently recreated the Ganga Aarti on the banks of the Credit River in Erindale Park, Mississauga. The event, held on July 4 and hosted by Radio Dhishum, featured traditional devotional rituals, including bhajans, shloka chanting, aarti thalis, and diyas lit under the open Canadian ceremony was designed to replicate the revered Ganga Aarti performed daily on the ghats of India's most sacred river. It included all major components of the ritual, adapted for the local setting. Participants carried out the chanting and lighting of lamps with traditional precision, while families and children took part in the devotional music and event is part of a broader trend where Indian communities abroad are recreating familiar religious and cultural ceremonies in new environments. While the Credit River is geographically and culturally distinct from the Ganga, the ceremony served as a symbolic gesture of devotion and remembrance of ceremony's photos and videos were widely shared by several users across social media, drawing numerous reactions users praised the effort to preserve Indian culture abroad.'Har Har Gange — what a feel through this reel,' one commenter however, questioned the practice of performing a ritual specific to the Ganga River on a waterbody thousands of miles away.'Hope they don't start polluting Canadian rivers like the Ganga,' one user remarked, while another added,'Doing aarti in front of any river doesn't make it Ganga Aarti. Return to your own country if you crave for it so much.'A few struck a different tone, reflecting on the conditions back home.'Come back home, let's clean the Ganga river,' one user posted, alluding to the ongoing environmental challenges facing the river in the ceremony was intended as a cultural and spiritual expression, it has reignited conversations about the meaning of religious practice in the diaspora and how traditions adapt, or clash, when taken beyond their geographic origins.
