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Viral Ganga Aarti on Canada’s Credit River Divides Supporters and Critics

Organized by Radio Dhishum with endorsement from the Indian Consulate, the ritual recreated the Ganga Aarti’s devotional spectacle on the banks of Canada’s Credit River

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A video of Ganga Aarti in Canada stirred mixed responses online.

Overview

  • On July 4, Radio Dhishum gathered hundreds of devotees at Erindale Park in Mississauga to conduct a Ganga Aarti ceremony reminiscent of rituals from Varanasi and Haridwar along the Credit River.
  • Consul Sanjeev Saklani represented the Indian Consulate in Toronto at the event, underscoring official support for the diaspora’s cultural activities.
  • Instagram user Priyanka Gupta’s video of the ceremony went viral over the weekend, fueling widespread online discussion.
  • Supporters hailed the event as a meaningful expression of diasporic identity and a way to sustain spiritual traditions thousands of kilometres from India.
  • Detractors raised concerns about the ritual’s environmental impact on the Credit River and questioned the geographical and cultural appropriateness of transplanting a Ganges-specific rite abroad.