Diwali Gala 2024

The event began with a warm welcome to all the guests and attendees by the emcee Prashant Maharshi. A brief introduction to the significance of Diwali—the festival of lights—was shared, highlighting its themes of triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and the renewal of hope.
Dignitaries and community leaders were invited to the stage for the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. This auspicious ritual marked the beginning of the festivities and was accompanied by prayers for peace and prosperity. Shiv Bhasker, President OFIC addressed the audience and spoke about the importance of diversity and cultural celebrations like Diwali in fostering unity and inclusivity within the Indo Canadian community. His Excellency Chinmoy Naik, acting High Commissioner of India to Canada gave his keynote address and re-iterated the importance of Diwali and mentioned that NRIs should visit India and spoke about the inbound tourism.
Dr Shivendra Dwivedi and his team gave an amazing presentation about charitable organisation Freedom from Poverty Foundation (FFPF) and the work they are doing in India. An amount of approximately $10,000 (ten thousand) were raised for the FFPF charity.
Mr. Cuckoo Kochar was also felicitated by OFIC as the Entrepreneur of the Year.
A series of vibrant cultural performances showcased the richness of Indian traditions. This included classical and Bollywood dance performances by local artists, melodious rendition of devotional songs and a short dance depicting the story of Diwali, including Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya. A sumptuous dinner featuring traditional Indian delicacies was served. Mr. Anil Sukhija proposed a vote of thanks to the organizing committee, sponsors, volunteers, performers and attendees for making the celebration a grand success.