Panorama Event A Grand Hit; Lara Dutta Leads Parade Of Floats; Garry Sandhu Electrifies Crowd
TORONTO: Panorama India, with the support of the Consulate General of India, Toronto celebrated India’s 73rd anniversary of Independence Day. The Festival and Grand Parade took place on Sunday, August 18 2019 at Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto.
The day long event witnessed participation of over 80,000 Indians, IndoCanadians and friends of India.
The The event kicked off with national anthems of Canada and India.
Chair of Panorama India Anu Srivastava welcomed everyone and expressed appreciation for the overwhelming support by Indo-Canadians in all aspects of the preparation for the event. “The India Day Grand Parade in Toronto is perhaps the largest parade outside of India and it is a matter of pride for all Indo-Canadians,” she added.
MPP Nina Tangri delivered Premier Doug Ford’s message in which he conveyed his best wishes on India’s Independence Day Festival and Grand Parade. The Acting Consul General of India Mr. Saifullah Khan remarked that the Indian diaspora in Canada represents the true Indian simplicity.
The grand parade was marshalled by Bollywood star and Miss Universe 2000, Lara Dutta.
Twenty (20) floats decorated on large trucks representing various States of India including Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar & Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and a large number of other diverse social and cultural Indo-Canadian groups from GTA participated in the parade. The parade was followed by music and dance performances by local artists, such as Sukhchain & Kamal, Mohua and Sargam Band, Paromita Roy India Dance among others.
A special fashion show organized by Cancer Warrior Foundation Canada and Fashion Designer Dinesh K Ramsay featured a ramp walk by real survivors of cancer in ethnic Indian wear.
Punjabi superstar singer Garry Sandhu concluded the day at Nathan Phillips Square entertaining the energetic crowd with a live music concert.
Vice Chair Sumeeta Kohli added “We work hard as a team to provide a day that is filled with culture, entertainment and great food so everyone can enjoy with their families.”
Toronto Police was also onsite all day with their recruitment booth and have supported Panorama India Day Parade since 2008. Other featured activities included a Kids Zone, over 20 mouth watering food stalls and more than 40 national and international kiosks promoting Indian philosophy, culture, clothes, food and jewelry.
Panorama India is a not-for-profit umbrella organization to help unite various Indian cultural associations and groups, project a common identity based on their Indian heritage, and celebrate Unity in Diversity.
It was established in 1999 with the support from Consulate General of India, Toronto. Consul General of India, Toronto is the honorary patron of Panorama India.
Panorama India provides a platform for all Indian cultural associations, groups, and individuals to exhibit and showcase their arts and culture. Panorama India fosters a better understanding between India and Canada and is proud to build bi-lateral relations with India and Canada through culture.