Diwali Celebrations In India: University Health Network

Philanthropic Gestures Dept: The Oct. 14 event was one of two Diwali hospital charity fundraisers this year in the Toronto area, where about 40 per cent of Canada s South Asians live. Together they raised $1.8-million for the Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga and the University Health Network in Toronto a significant amount of money by any measure, and a sign, Ms. Kataria said, that Canada s South Asian community is prospering and adapting its traditions to what many South Asians see as Canadian cultural norms, according to Globe and Mail. Although large-scale philanthropic gestures are becoming more common as India s wealth grows, giving to charity is generally not a part of Diwali celebrations in India. The concept is the same, but as we become established our thoughts have changed, Ms. Kataria said of the decision to donate $6,000 worth of Indian sauces and chutneys manufactured by her company, Kataria Foods Inc., to the Bollywood-style event in Mississauga. We have started to think, we can do this, so why not take this money and give it to a good cause. For Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, Diwali marks the triumph of light over darkness and offers a chance for new beginnings. Festivities usually start a few weeks before Diwali, which changes dates based on the lunar calendar. This year, it is on Oct. 26. South Asians will mark the day by praying to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, setting off fireworks and exchanging small gifts with family and friends. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.