Barrie’s Indian community had a coming out of sorts Sunday with its first Janmashtami Mela gathering, a religious festival celebrating the birth of Krishna.
A small crowd braved a short shower as they gathered between flower beds at Sunnidale Park while others participated through a live feed online.
Bhaktimarga Swarmi, known as the 'Walking Monk', held up a backpack from his first of four cross-Canada walks in 1996 as he engaged the children and led a chant. Music, dancing and food followed.
“In future, there will be many more events so our diverse community in Simcoe County doesn’t feel homesick and we stay connected to our rich cultural roots,” said committee member Naina Sharma Jasrotia. “We’re slowly building a community.
“The BIA (Barrie Indian Association) is working hard to bring the community closer.”
The association’s president, Shakir Barmare, says the local Indian community grew during the pandemic exodus from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Many others, including him, initially came to attend Georgian College, which has a significant international student population.
As it unites its members, the association has forged relationships with the community and municipal, provincial and federal politicians.
“The association is all about inclusion and our city,” Barmare said. “We’re all about bringing the community together, from different cultures, different races, different religions, all together celebrating the culture of the city."
Barmare, a photographer, moved to Barrie from Mumbai to study. And in deciding to settle in Canada, he visited other areas, but says Barrie felt like home from the very start.
Sunday's event was intended to unite the local community and grow the association, which hopes to establish ISKCON Barrie —their own temple in Barrie. Currently, Barrie’s Indian community gathers at Sharma Jasrotia’s home or travels to temples in the GTA as it practises Sanātana Dharma or Hindu.
The group, she added, is bringing Eastern philosophy to the west.
In its efforts to organize locally and develop plans for a temple the Barrie community has been getting support from Toronto’s Indian community.
