Indian-Canadian lawmaker hosts Diwali celebration; raises Hindu flag

NEW DELHI: Indian-Canadian lawmaker Chandrasekhar Arya hosted Diwali celebration at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

During the event, he raised the Hindu flag with the sacred symbol "Aum".

Arya, who originally hails from Karnataka, said that the Diwali celebration he organized on Sunday was attended by a large number of Indians from various Canadian cities such as Ottawa, the Greater Toronto Area, and Montreal.

"I was pleased to host Diwali on Parliament Hill. We also used this opportunity to raise the flag of the Hindu sacred symbol Aum on Parliament Hill," he said in a post on X.

"Great turnout with participants from Ottawa, Greater Toronto Area, Montreal and many other places. The event was supported by 67 Hindu and Indo-Canadian organisations across Canada," the lawmaker said.

"The added pleasure this year was Diwali is also part of the Hindu Heritage Month across Canada. My sincere thanks to all those who attended, volunteers and artists of excellent cultural performances at the event," he added.

Parliament Hill is where Canada's national government meets to create laws. Elected representatives from all over Canada come together here to make important decisions for the country.

The Diwali celebrations took place while the relationship between India and Canada is going through a difficult period.

This comes following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September of "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist separatist Hardeep Singh.