Culture is transportable. There’s a huge Indian diaspora in Toronto and the Gerrard India Bazaar area is where many people shop for ethnic Indian clothing. I read that it’s the oldest and biggest bazaar in North America. Thousands of people were there recently for its Annual South Asian Festival. “The ethnic diversity of South Asian Canadians reflects the enormous cultural variability of South Asia’s people. About half of South Asian Canadians were born in India, where 14 major languages are spoken and hundreds of discrete ethnic groups exist.” (Canadian Encyclopedia) All the images for the collages in this post were taken in that area.
While Indians have changed residence and made Canada their home, they still have cultural ties with their country of origin. This is very evident in the area of clothing. Many older Indians, particularly women, only wear Indian dress. Members of the younger generation have embraced the wearing of saris and lehengas for weddings and other special occasions. Bollywood has played a big role in this trend.
(Anurag Kashyap)
Bollywood movies play a huge role in fashion where the Indian diaspora all over the world is concerned. Toronto is no exception. According to Cameron Bailey, Co-Director of the Toronto International Film Festival: “Toronto audiences have been powerful champions for the promotion and growth of Indian Cinema abroad.”
You can dazzle or be dazzled in Toronto by the different colors, designs, motifs, beads, stones, and other East Indian clothing effects – it’s all up to you. One thing is for sure with regard to the Indian diaspora in Toronto and world-wide – “there’s no going back.” While there may be visits to India from time to time, they have put down roots in new terrain – houses are bought, children and grandchildren are born, and a new life and new possibilities have emerged. There has been a moving on.
“The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.”
