The Indo-Canadian Communities

 

In Shanti Uddyaan (Peace Park) on Yonge Street at Highway 7, a larger-than-life size statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been erected by Indo-Canadian communities as a gesture of thanks to Canada—the land of opportunities—for providing a peaceful new homeland. The monument is symbolic of the commitment of diverse cultural groups that make up Toronto’s Indo-Canadian community, towards promoting peace and harmony. Gandhi, an enlightened soul wedded to truth and non-violence, liberated India from foreign rule through “Satyagraha” meaning peaceful civil disobedience. He identified himself with the people of India and more specifically with the poorest of the poor and the down trodden. India, before its independence on 15 August, 1947, was made up of 560 separate princely states. Today, there are a total of 25 states (provinces) in India, organised mainly on different cultural and linguistic considerations. The Toronto Indo-Canadian community includes Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis), representing every nook and corner of India. Many of them came to Canada from Africa, the Carribeans or other parts of the world where their forefathers had migrated as bonded labour from India many generations ago. In fact, the first Indo-Canadians came to British Columbia from Punjab as early as 1897.

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Of the 350,000 people of Indo-Canadian origin living in Ontario, approximately 100,000 are Hindus who reside mainly in Toronto. Immigration to Canada began as early as the mid-19th century, but it wasn’t until the late 1960s that Indo-Canadian communities began to form in Ontario. Many of the early settlers came indirectly from either the United States or Britain, and were from India’s professional class. Indo-Canadian entrepreneurs continue to operate in trade-oriented business, such as electronics, carpets, clothing, auto mechanics, travel, restaurants, and real estate.

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From 1970 to 1975, a large influx of Sri Lankans came to Canada, settling in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. The community is made up of many ethnic groups: Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors, Malays, Burghers (mixed European, Sinhalese and Tamil) and others. Members speak three languages: Sinhala, Tamil, and English, and follow one of four religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, or Islam. The Buddhist Temple on Kingston Road has served as the major religious centre and often acts as a community centre, also attracting non-Buddhist members to its events. A prominent Sri Lankan Torontonian is poet, novelist and film maker Michael Ondaatje, who has won Governor General awards for two books of poetry and his novel The English Patient.

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Since the Second World War, the Ontario Zoroastrian community has grown to 350 families, making it the largest settlement in Canada. The Parsis (Parsees) or Zoroastrians migrated to India from Iran in the seventh century A.D. Members of the community are highly educated, devout, and volunteer many hours of their time to charities. In the 1960s, the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario purchased the former Bayview Avenue estate of writer Mazo de la Roche, and later established a prayer hall. Cultural and religious events include evenings of food and prayer called ghambar, and the navjot, a coming-of-age ceremony which is held before children reach their 11th year. Rohinton Mistry portrays this community, in Bombay and in Toronto, in his novels and stories, including Such a Long Journey which won the Governor General’s Award for Fiction.

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Jainism is one of the world’s oldest surviving faiths. There are about five hundred Jain families living in Toronto. Another well-known community is Gujarati, one of India’s prominent well-to-do and well-educated communities. Their community in Toronto is described in greater detail in a separate chapter.

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Torontonians can observe classical Indian dance at various festivals that take place during the year. One of the most colourful Indian celebrations is Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights that takes place in autumn. Families and friends gather together to light lamps in honour of the goddess of strength, wealth, and prosperity.

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Places to Go

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A concentration of Indo-Canadian shops and restaurants are found in three commercial centers of Metro Toronto: Gerrard Street Indian Bazaar; Donlands Avenue Indian Shopping Centre in East York; and shopping areas in Malton and Brampton.

Along Gerrard Street, east of Greenwood Avenue, there are more than 40 stores and restaurants carrying spices, sarees, and East Indian cuisine. The neighbourhood formed around the Gerrard Street Theatre, which showed Asian films. Today, the Indian Centre, (1430 Gerrard St), has replaced the theatre; it features clothing shops, restaurants, and fast food outlets.

Toronto’s Indian chefs use spices such as cardamom, turmeric, and hot chilies to create aromatic dishes. Rice is the staple, and Indian breads include nan (white flour bread) and puri (deep-fried puffy bread). Popular dishes are curried meat, chicken, vegetables, and fish. Specialties include bhelpuri (puffed rice, flour, potatoes, and onions in chutney); biriyanis (lamb, beef or chicken cooked with whole spices covered in rice and garnished with fruits and nuts); samosa (deep-fried turnover stuffed with spiced ground meat); pork vindaloo (hot curry made with vinegar base); and northern Indian tandoori meat dishes (baked in a clay oven and marinated in yogurt and spices). Popular sweets are carrot halwa (confection made from condensed milk and grated carrots), burfi, and Ras Malai (Bengal milk dessert).

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Restaurants in other areas include Brar Sweets Restaurant, (Tel. 905-848-3933, 755 Dundas St. W, Mississauga). An excellent pure vegetarian Indian-Punjabi buffet. The owners, Pabla Brothers, specialize in high protein vegetarian cuisine, without a trace of animal products. Brar Sweets is always full of people. Other restaurants are Mahar Restaurant, (Tel. 416-466-6241, 1410 Gerrard St. E); and Moti Mahal Restaurant Ltd., (Tel. 416-461-3111, 1422 Gerrard St. E).

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The Bombay Palace, (Tel. 416-368-8048, 71 Jarvis St), is part of a worldwide chain with restaurants in New York, Montreal, and San Francisco. Bamboo sculptures decorate the restaurant and East Indian cuisine includes chicken tikka, tandoori prawns, seekh kabab (minced or ground lamb mixed with spices and cooked over charcoal), pasanda, lamb curry, pulao, nan, and chutney pickles. A daily luncheon buffet features 21 hot and cold dishes. Swagat Restaurant, (Tel. 905-475-5870, 415 Hood Rd), serves Tandoori and other traditional dishes from India. Both vegetarian and non vegetarian, including mixed vegetable curry and murg saag (chicken with spinach). Annapurna, (Tel. 416-537-8513, 1085 Bathurst St), serves vegetarian cuisine with East Indian spices in a room decorated with cards carrying words of wisdom in dedication to the philosophy of Sri Chimnoy. Sangam Banquet Hall, (Tel. 905-821-9688, 6991 Millcreek Dr., Mississauga);

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Religious Centres, Schools and Other Institutions

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The Indo-Canadian community represents practically all religions of India, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism. Of the city’s numerous temples and churches, the main centres of worship are:

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•   HINDU PRARTHANA SAMAJ, (Tel. 416-536-9229, 62 Fern Ave).

•   ISKCON/HARE KRISHNA TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-922-5415, 243 Avenue Rd)

•   HINDU TEMPLE SOCIETY OF CANADA, (Tel. 905-568-1536, 4950 Albina Way, Unit 1404, Mississauga).

•   JAI DURGA HINDU SOCIETY, (Tel. 416-297-1146, 37 Unita Grove).

•   JAIN SOCIETY OF TORONTO, (Tel. 416-251-8112, 48 Rosemeade Ave). In July 1983, a formal temple was established at 247 Parklawn Road in the southwest section of Toronto. The Jain Society’s current location is used as a temple and hall for festivals and meetings. The Sanatan Mandir’s new facilities will make it easier for people from Northeast Toronto attend regular visitation (darshan) and prayers.

•   HINDU SABHA, (Tel. 905-794-4638, 9225 The Gore Rd., Bramalea).

•   VEDIC ARYAN MANDIR (TEMPLE) AND CULTURAL CENTRE, (Tel. 905-475-5778, 4345 14th Ave., Markham).

•   ARYA SAMAJ, TORONTO, (Tel. 905-475-5778, 4345 14th Ave., Markham).

•   TORONTO BUDDHIST CHURCH, (Tel. 416-534-4302, 918 Bathurst St).

•   ZOROASTRIAN TEMPLE, (Tel. 416-733-4586, 3590 Bayview Ave).

•   BUDDHIST TEMPLE, (3595 Kingston Rd).

•   STATE BANK OF INDIA (CANADA), (Tel. 416-865-0414, Royal Bank Plaza, North Tower, 200 Bay St., Suite 1600), is the community’s financial institution.

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Holidays and Celebrations

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Most East Indian holidays are according to the Hindu calendar and do not fall on the same day each year.

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•   PONGAL-SANKRANTI. In January Pongal-Sankranti is celebrated. Commemorating a three-day harvest festival celebrated in India. Traditionally, Pongal, the newly harvested rice, is fed to cows; in Ontario, the festival is celebrated as a general get-together and cultural evening.

•   INDIA’S REPUBLIC DAY. January 26 is India’s Republic Day, celebrating the day in 1950 that India became a republic. On the weekend closest to the holiday, The Indo-Canadian Association makes an address, followed by a cultural program and refreshments.

•   HOLI. March is the month of Holi, a boisterous Hindu festival where friends throw coloured water on each other. It is celebrated with dancing, singing, and food.

•   JAMSHEDI NAVROZ. March 21 is Jamshedi Navroz, a Zoroastrian festival which is associated with the spring solstice and held in honour of an emperor of Iranian legend. The festival is celebrated by holding a jashan, a thanks-giving ceremony celebrated with get togethers.

•   BIRTHDAY OF LORD RAMA. In April, the birthday of Lord Rama is celebrated by all Hindus with prayers and recitations from the Ramayana.

•   BAISAKHI DAY. April 13 is generally Baisakhi Day, celebrated as New Year’s Day for Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists.

•   BUDDHA PURNIMA. In May, Buddha Purnima is celebrated in honour of the birth, enlightenment, and salvation of Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

•   INDEPENDENCE DAY, on August 15, marks India’s Independence Day, which was first celebrated in 1947. On the weekend closest to the day, India’s Consulate General in Toronto holds a reception.

•   JANMASHTAM. A full-day festival with a dinner in honour of the birth of Lord Krishna is held in August. As a religious observance, it involves all-night prayer vigils, as well as devotional singing and dancing.

•   PATETI, in August, is the beginning of the New Year on the Zoroastrian calendar. It is celebrated by holding a jashan.