INDIA’S Consulate General in Vancouver celebrated World Hindi Day at Fraserview Hall in Vancouver on January.

The event was attended by about 160 people. Eight local Indian community organizations: Bhartiya Kala and Sahitya Parishad, Hindi Sahitya Parishad, Global Hindu Foundation, Varad Ashram Inter-cultural Service Humanitarian World Association (VISHWA), Srijani, Manswini, Indian Cultural Association and two Hindi teaching schools — Vedic Hindi School and Ganesh Hindi School — participated in the event. Mudra School of Dance gave a mesmerizing classical performance.

Consul General Manish in his opening remarks welcomed the audience and thanked the Indian associations for preserving, propagating and promoting Hindi and also for taking part in the Vishwa Hindi Diwas celebrations.  He also highlighted the importance and beauty of Hindi, its role in shaping the Indian personality and its growing popularity and place at the world stage.

The program started with the reading of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message on the Vishwa Hindi Diwas 2024. The Consul General then released two Hindi books — one written by Acharya S.P. Dwivedi and the other by Shikha Porwal, both of whom are well known in the community and very active in preserving and promoting the language.  Acharya Dwivedi has participated in three World Hindi Conferences that were held in Trinidad, New York and Fiji.

The event included eloquent presentation of Hindi poetry both by children and adults, songs devoted to India and its culture creating nostalgia among the older generation, discussion on ‘Vigyan and Adhyatm ka Samanvay’, a patriotic play by children, dance and music – both folk and classical, etc.

The evening was concluded with honouring the participants with plaques and certificates and a note of thanks by Consul Surjeet Singh.