Happy 150th Canada! Let’s party desi style and celebrate the true north

Sana Umer is at the 2nd annual South Asian Canada Day held at Mississauga Valley Park in this file photo. Photo by Claudio Cugiliari, courtesy of Mississauga News

Saturday, July 1

Event: Little India: Village of Dreams
Details: Nina Beveridge’s intimate documentary Little India: Village Of Dreams, will premier on TVO at 9 p.m. The film captures the stresses of old world conflicts and New World challenges that have reshaped Little India on a stretch of Gerrard Street.
Contact: Here

Event: Odyesso-Cavalia
Details: This spectacular equestrian event featuring acrobats, stage-art and more is happening at the White Big Top, adjacent to the Hershey Centre, 5399 Rose Cherry Place, Mississauga until July 16.
Contact: Here

Saturday, July 8

Event: Ehsaas
Details: Ehsaas: A Feeling of Eternal Love, a live concert features Bhavin Shastri and will kick off at the Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Ln. Brampton at 8 p.m. Shashtri will deliver a mix of old Bollywood songs as well as some Sufiana ones.
Contact: Here

Sunday, July 9

Event: Rung De’ One
Details: The Holi-type event celebrating Canada’s diversity will take place outside Sheridan College in Mississauga, 4218 Living Arts Dr. from noon until 6 p.m.
Contact: Here

Friday, July 14

Event: Vibrant Brampton
Details: Garden Square in Downtown Brampton be filled with samples of South Asian culture July 14 to 15. Organized by Arts and Culture Initiative of South Asian (ACISA) Vibrant Brampton.
Contact: Here

Saturday, July 15

Event: BMM does Brampton
Details: Bollywood Monster Mashup (BMM) does Brampton is an evening of stand-up comedy, spoken word and urban music showcase. Action starts and ends at the Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Ln. at 4:30 p.m.
Contact: Here

July 15 to 17

Event: Punyah Krishna
Details: Sampradaya Dance Academy will present Home Season production Punyah Krishna other works by Parshwanath Upadhye at the dance academy’s theatre, 3250 Ridgeway Drive – Unit #4, Mississauga.
Contact: Here

Saturday, July 22
Event: BMM Concert
Details: Bollywood Monster Mashup, a hit summer staple, is back again with its characteristic masti. The concert portion featuring a celebration of Bollywood includes Brampton gal Jonita Gandhi, Aakanksha Sharma, the voice of Sunny Leone in “Main Adhoora to the main stage. Events start at 2 p.m.
Contact: Here

April ’17 brings music, theatre and arts for Torontonians

The 17th annual Kalanidhi Festival celebrating Indian dance genres runs until April 2 at the Harbourfront Centre. Photo courtesy Kalanidhi Fine Arts of Canada website.

Saturday, April 1

Event: Kalanidhi festival
Details: The 17^th annual Kalanidhi Festival of Indian Dance: Whirling Streams will take place at the Fleck Dance Theatre at Harbourfront Centre, March 28 to April 2.
Contact: Here

Event: Little Pretty and the Exceptional
Details: Factory theatre, 125 Bathhurst St. (at Adelaide) presents, Little Pretty and the Exceptional, a play written by Anusree Roy and directed by Brendan Healy, April 6 to 30.
Contact: Here

Event: Sikh Heritage Month
Details: Communities across the GTA will mark Sikh Heritage Month all April. In Brampton, the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA), 9 Wellington St. E. has several exhibits and shows planned. Admission is free.
Contact: Here

Friday, April 7

Event: One Brave Night
Details: SOCH, a group comprising of South Asian mental health advocates, will participate in Canadian Association of Mental Health (CAMH)’s annual fundraiser, One Brave Night. They have planned a full night of events and activities, April 7 to 8 at LAB Brampton, 60 Queen St. E. Unit 104.
Contact: Here

Friday, April 14

Event: Bhangra in the City
Details: Celebrate Vaisakhi with Bhangra Night at the Atmosfera Resto-Louge , 6781 Hurontario St. Mississauga. Some top Bhangra Djs will spin.
Contact: Here

Saturday, April 15

Event: Tabla-Taiko concert
Details: The Toronto Tabla Ensemble and the Nagata Shachu will showcase an evening of exceptional percussion in this cross-cultural concert. The show will take place at the Greenwin Theatre at the Toronto Centre for Arts, 5040 Yonge St. Toronto, M2N 6R8 at 7 p.m.
Contact: Here

Event: Baisakhi 2017
Details: Gerrard India Bazaar will be hosting a Baisakhi celebration at Little India (Gerrard and Ashdale) 4 p.m. onward.
Contact: Here

Monday, April 17

Event: The Drupadi Project
Details: Why Not theatre’s RISER Project 2017 will feature the world premieres of four new Canadian plays:The Draupadi Project, Pearle Harbour’s Chautauqua, El Retorno/I Return and Two Birds One Stone. Sharada Eswar’s The Draupadi Project is a reimagining of the ancient Indian epic, “The Mahabharata.” It will run April 17 to 18 at 7 p.m. at the BMO Incubator, The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. W.
Contact: Here

Thursday, April 27

Event: Shyam Selvadurai
Details: The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) GTA Young Workers Committee will host well-known author Shyam Selvadurai at the PSAC Toronto’s regional office, 90 Eglinton Ave. E. at 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Here

Here’s some more things to do during March’17

Want to submit your events to Toronto Desi Diaries (TDD)? It’s pretty simple.

Deadline is a month in advance. Since I compile the list, first week of the month, your submissions should reach me well before that and should include date, time, place (postal address), contact details and a web address. Please send high-rez images if any as well. Email all this to: Toronto.desidiaries@gmail.com. There’s no fee and I know y’all hate taking favours, so just subscribe to the blog and hit “like” on TDD’s Facebook page and we can call it even.

***

Toronto’s Young People’s Theatre is presenting Boys with Cars, a play written and directed by Anita Majumdar, March 23 to April 1. Photo by Andrew Alexander

Friday, March 17

Event: Concert

Details: Amit Mishra will perform Bollywood songs at the Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Ln. Brampton at 7 p.m.
Contact: Here

Thursday, March 23

Event: Boys with Cars

Details: Toronto’s Young People’s Theatre will host a play, written and directed by Anita Majumdar, an actress, playwright, dancer and a choreographer. Boys With Cars will be presented at the main stage of Young People’s Theatre from March 23 to April 1.
Contact: Here

Saturday, March 25

Event: Swayamvar

Details: Desi Dreams will be hosting a singles event for South Asians, Saturday, March 25 at the Novotel Mississauga, 3670 Hurontario St. Event starts at 2 p.m. for folks 25 and above and at 6:30 p.m. for those 36 and above.
Contact: Sylvia, 647-709-3437 and Sujata, 416-738-3595 or Here

February ’17 events in Toronto will warm your heart

Saturday, Feb. 4

Event: A.R. Rahman Tribute
Details: Ideal Entertainment, is presenting the Ideal Dreams show on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Toronto’s Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 1 Front St. E., to pay tribute to A.R. Rahman for his 25 years of service in the film industry. Featuring the Kindred Spirits Orchestra with over a 100 North American artists, the show will include musical theatre, dance and vocal performances set in sequences to Rahman’s compositions. A.R. Rahman expected to attend the event.
Contact: Here

Event: Give a Heart Gala
Details: Amar Karma Health and Wellness Awareness Centre will host its 7^th annual Give a Heart gala at the Apollo Convention Centre, 6591 Innovator Dr. Mississauga at 6:30 p.m.
Contact: Here

Saturday, Feb. 11

Event: Sanskriti Arts
Details: At Sanskriti Arts Ensemble’s (SAE) open house happening 1 to 6 p.m. at 2359 Royal Windsor Dr., unit 15 in Mississauga, fitness and fun are on the agenda. Enjoy an array of dance performances including Bollywood, yoga, Kathak, Hip-hop and more.
Contact: Here

Event: Valentine’s Day Party
Details: A Bollywood style Valentine’s Day party is happening at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall, 6628 Finch Ave. W. Etobicoke from 6:30 p.m. Live entertainment by Sunil Patel and his Bollywood Tunes orchestra.
Contact: Here

Friday, Feb. 17

Event: Salsa Sizzle
Details: Salsa sizzle is an hour long salsa lesson followed by a dance performance along with a DJ spinning Salsa tunes, Top 40 Bollywood and English hits. Magic is happening at the Symphony Hall, 959 Derry Rd. E. at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $20/person. Dress code: Black and red formal wear.
Contact: Here

Saturday, Feb. 18

Event: Roots: A Journey Through India
Details: Experience the beauty of Indian culture and heritage through dance – from the mystique of the Hindu deities to the vibrant colours and energy of modern Bollywood styles, from the Mughal Empire’s love stories to modern day Punjab. Performance happening at The Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Ln. Brampton at 7 p.m.
Contact: Here

Friday, Feb. 24

Event: Shaun Majumder
Details: Gemini award winner Shaun often plays an alter ego called Raj Binder. Maybe he’ll make an appearance at the performance at the Living Arts Centre (Hammerson Hall), 4141 Living Arts Centre Dr. Mississauga at 8 p.m.
Contact: Here

It’s sunny in the GTA: June ’16 has lots of outdoor festivals

Canadian artist Kulwant Singh brings people to life in his oil and mixed media works. His exhibition, Colours of Life is happening at Beaux-Arts Brampton until June 11. Photo by Radhika Panjwani

Canadian artist Kulwant Singh brings people to life in his oil and mixed media works. His exhibition, Colours of Life, is running at Beaux-Arts Brampton until June 11. Photo by Radhika Panjwani

Wednesday, June 1

Event: Colours of Life
Details: Well-known Canadian artist Kulwant Singh will be showcasing his oil and mixed-media works in his upcoming exhibit. Kulwant’s portraits of prominent Canadians as well as those from the Indian diaspora are a must-see. Exhibition running until June 11. You can see Kulwant’s works at Beaux-Arts Brampton, 70-74 A Main St. S. Brampton.
Contact: Here

Event: Kabbadi
Details: The 2016 Kabbadi Festival featuring both men and women teams will take place at Brampton’s Powerade Centre at 7575 Kennedy Rd. S. The event hosted by the Peel District School Board (PDSB) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Contact: Here

Saturday, June 4

Event: Halal Fest
Details: Mississauga Halal Food Fest returns to Celebration Square in Mississauga. There will be food, entertainment and music. Event runs 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Check out the first-ever outdoor mango market at the festival. Jawad Ahmed is the headliner.
Contact: Here

Sunday, June 5

Event: DiversityFest
Details: Show up at the Yonge-Dundas Square to witness a fusion of South Asian, Chinese, Filipino and Arab arts and culture. The free event runs from 1 to 9 p.m.
Contact: Here

Event: Concert
Details: The Raag-Mala Music Society of Toronto will present a classical music concert featuring Pravin GodKhindi (flute), Ratish Tagde (violin) and Ramdas Pulsule (tabla) at the Glen Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W. (CIBC building) at 6 p.m.
Contact: Here

Wednesday, June 8

Event: Indo-Canadian Golf
Details: The 2016 Indo-Canadian Golf Association Golf Tournament is taking place at the DiamondBack Golf Club, 13300 Leslie St. Richmond Hill at noon, and will include a gala event.
Contact: Here

Saturday, June 18

Event: International Day of Yoga
Details: Art of Living GTA is hosting an International Day of Yoga at the Brampton Soccer Centre, 1496 Sandalwood Pkwy. E. from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Contact: Here

Saturday, June 25

Event: Eid Bazaar
Details: An Eid celebration with food, music and vendors is happening in the Oshawa/Durham region this June. The event is taking place at Sinclair Secondary School, 380 Taunton Rd. E. Whitby at 1p.m.
Contact: Anum, 289-928-4789

Event: Sohna Punjab
Details: A show featuring Jassi Gill, Sippy Gill and Babal Rai is taking place at the Powerade Centre, 7575 Kennedy Rd. S. at 6 p.m.
Contact: Here

Toronto Desi Diaries

Sights, sounds and stories of South Asians in Toronto

South Asian events in Toronto