Canada: Panorama India's first-ever 2-day digital event celebrates India Day 2020 and Virtual Grand Parade

"We are proud to share our new edition that we have created for the future. We are proud to have created a tag line, 'Mera India. Hamara India, for Panorama India," said Sumeeta Kohli, Co-chairperson of Panorama India.

The opening ceremony of India Day 2020 was marked with the National Anthems of both Canada and India. This was followed by welcoming speech by Sumeeta Kohli, remarks from Apoorva Srivastava, and High Commissioner of India, and special messages by VIP and dignitaries, greetings from Panorama Board of Directors, and from Bollywood celebrities.

In her speech, Sumeeta Kohli said, "We built an online infrastructure that now allows multiple community groups to come together and celebrate. Panorama India’s goal is to provide partnership and build a platform to enable diverse Indo-Canadians to showcase their talent and bridge Indo-Canadian relations to the celebration of culture...today it has become a universal platform that propagates the idea that India and Canada can get together."

"We want to thank all the Bollywood celebrities, Manoj Joshi, Indian Film and TV actor, Sachin Khedkar, Indian actor, sports personalities, Indian cricketers, Sunil Gavaskar, and Yuvraj Singh, Aditya Dhar, Indian Writer and director of the film Uri, to have made special presentation throughout the celebration and serve our grand parade marshals."

"Over the next two days you will see over 100 artists before for each of the art segment and the cultural segment," she added.

Apoorva Srivastava, Consul General of India, Toronto in her remarks thanked Sumeeta Kohli, other members of the board of directors, and community members and said, "India-Canada partnership has strengthened and diversified over the years...India and Canada are natural alliances. Canada has for years welcomed people from India and offered them an opportunity to nourish and prosper."

"The 1.6 million-strong Indo-Canadian community in Canada, affluent, hard working, peaceful and fully integrated...has shown progress from politics to commerce, and academics to arts. 225,000 Indian students form the largest chunk of the international students in Canada...Indian community has come forward to support not only the stranded Indians and the students but also the largest Canadian society...Under the Vande Bharat Mission, said Apoorva 8000 people had been repatriated till then in 43 flights."

Apoorva continued to say that the Consulate had been doing everything from "consular services and facilitating Vande Bharat Mission flights" and added that "Let me assure that the Consulate would do everything to make the Consulate Home away from Home for all the Indians."

Ajay Bisaria, High commissioner of India, in his message, said this being the first online India Day virtual event is an example of innovation to deal with a new virtual world during these trying times and added,

"India is 73 years old, a strong vibrant and peaceful nation committed to protect the integrity of its borders...India has provided relief to its citizens with deep structural reforms."

Andrew Scheer, Canada's Conservative party leader in his remarks said, "Canada and India share a long friendship and partnership of respect and shared values. Our country is home to over million Indian people who have contributed tremendously to its success, prosperity. This year marks the 74th anniversary of India’s Independence. This reflects the strong bond between India and Canada and celebrates the achievements of Indo-Canadian community."

He thanked the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, India Consulate in Toronto and Panorama India "for putting together such a wonderful event that brings together people from coast to coast."

Ontario premier, Doug Ford, in his message said, "The spirit of today will continue to shine as we celebrate Indian culture, India’s heritage. Ontario is proud to have the largest Indian population in Canada who are vibrant and building our economy and social foundations. I want to thank Panorama India and Indian Consul General for tonight’s incredible online celebrations. Thank you for being leaders in the Indian community. Enjoy the digital parade and celebrations. Happy India Independence Day."

Toronto Mayor John Tory in his message said, "The Indian community in Toronto has played a vital role in building our city not only during this pandemic but also every single day towards a wide variety of sectors including politics, Sciences, business, health care and the arts just to name a few. I hope that today’s India Day celebration will allow us to further recognize those contributions and allow for this important opportunity to share the Indian culture with many others."

Bonnie Crombie, Mayor of Mississauga said being home to over 54,000 Indo-Canadians and over 156,000 people of South-Asian descent, Mississauga is one of the most diverse and inclusive city in the world and added,  "The strong cultural connection and respect our community has for one another has opened up the doors for tremendous opportunities to further promote the bilateral trade between Canada and India...and continue to strengthen our bonds in the days and years to come."

Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton in his key message said, "Every time I go to India, I discover something new and fascinating and I have to say that I feel so fortunate, so grateful to be a mirror of Brampton in which we have a large diaspora of Indians. It is so much to our city, so much to our country.   The generosity, the sense of family, the sense of friendship, the drive of the community in Canada is incredible." 

The segments of the India Day 2020: Patriotic Segment, Cultural Segment, and the Virtual Grand Parade took place on both Aug 15 and Aug 16.

In the patriotic segment heart-felt and soul-touching patriotic melodies are sung by renowned artists and singers to represent the diverse cultural heritage of a unified India. Saanvi Vaanam, a young girl sang the melodious the Indian National Anthem. Deepak Gandhi, R.P.S. Sachdev, Arjun Jasuja were some of the other renowned artists.

The cultural segment of the India Day 2020 reflected the different cultures of India, including Colours of India Fashion shows, Folk dances of different states including Bharatnatyam Fusion, Bollywood performances, Hip Hop Dance performance, Tamil Folk Dance, Holi folk Dance, Gujarati Folk Dance;  Classical storytelling, Odissi Bharatnatyam Jugalbandi, Classical Love songs, etc.

"We are proud that for the first time ever Panorama India represents all 28 states. We thank all community organizations that created each of the segments...salute all of you for all of your participation and your hard work. We are extremely excited for all of you to see a very special presentation," said Sumeeta in her welcoming speech. 

'Toronto laughs with Sunil Grover' was another amazing event held on Aug 15 at 6 pm on India Day 2020 by Panorama India.   

The 2nd day of the India Day 2020 by Panorama Included more state floats, more artists, more performances and the winners announced by Panorama India and the Consulate General of India, Toronto.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)