Despite Tense Relations, Canada’s Parliament Hill Hosts Kullu Dussehra

SHIMLA, (IANS) – Despite the tense diplomatic relations between India and Canada, the Indian diaspora celebrated Himachal Pradesh’s famed Kullu Dussehra for the first time in Canada’s Parliament Hill.

The event was attended on October 23 among other dignitaries, by the High Commissioner of India to Canada, Sanjay Verma, besides 25 Indo-Canadian diaspora organizations and international diaspora.

The festival to mark good over evil was hosted by Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya and supported by the Himachali Pravasi Global Association.

Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu addressed the attendees in a video message, which was played at Parliament Hill.

A cultural program was performed by HPGA members that comprised Himachali Naati. During lunch, ‘dham’ was served to the audience. The ‘dham’ is a mid-day meal served in Himachali culture on the occasions of marriage or religious days. In the ‘dham’, cooked rice and moong dal are served.

Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana, was staged. A colorful decorated palanquin carrying the idols of deities to pay their obeisance to Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity of the festival, was performed.