Desi Dialogues

Print

E-mail

Text

When I came to Toronto in the summer of 2001, one of the first things I did was attend a picnic.

Yes, funny as it sounds, a friend of a friend from back home suggested we come to meet "new people" from our small Zoroastrian community.

So barely four days in the country, my husband and I found ourselves shaking hands with scores of people repeating the same stuff - our names, where we lived in India, which was followed by "Oh, I had an aunt back in the same colony. Do you know her?"

But the funniest incident was when I received curious glances from the ladies, including one woman who asked me why I was wearing so much real jewelry. I was forced to explain that I landed in Canada almost four days ago with no relatives, no bank account or safe deposit box and that my gold wasn't safe at the hotel.

Convinced I wasn't "showing off," she, thankfully, introduced me to many more people.

Picnics for newcomers often act in two ways. Newcomers get to experience the community, often their own, and it usually gives them a sense of security in a new country. Alternatively, it can also leave a bad taste if they don't feel comfortable or experience different attitudes or behaviours that could be alien to them.

With scores of immigrants choosing summer to land here, people can literally choose from a number of South Asian picnics dotting the metropolis.

Almost 14 years ago, a Toronto couple, Tony and Janet Lewis, originally from a Bandra, a Mumbai, India, suburb, decided to organize a picnic that would bring friends and family here together. The common element being all of them were once from Bandra, then predominantly loaded with Catholics. The picnic, which was meant for only 20 at that time, has now become a mega-gathering with more than a 1,000 people attending it, all of whom are not necessarily from Bandra or Catholic.

Usually in the third week of August, the picnic has activities for every age group. With sponsors, laptops and Nintendo games have been dished out as prizes. But it is the food that you can't escape. Many families display their own variants of pork vindaloo and pork sorpotel (a spicy red chili base of curry with a mix of pork ingredients). The interesting part is that you can share the latest community gossip, but also know you could end up meeting your long-lost pal from back home or even make lifelong friends.

For many Bangladeshis, attending picnics organized by members who lived in their district or town is an event they look forward to.

"It is the only time of the year that we feel we are back home," said Hafizur Rehman, who is from Bangladesh's Barisal district.

While some feel the Biryani (flavoured rice with beef or meat) is a must, others definitely want their spicy fish - and it all comes to life at these picnics. Games played back home, such as football (soccer), musical chairs or even passing the pillow, provides the extra touch.

Enjoying good food is essential to the success of a picnic.

For organizers of the Zorastrian community, picnics become a place where the older generation who used to speak in Gujarati (a colloquial language virtually absent in the younger generation of Zoraostrians here) can share their jokes.

Kerman Katrak has organized many picnics to get youngsters within the community to unite.

As for us, we are glad we went for one such Bandra picnic and met Rodney and Noreen Almeida, who have now become lifelong friends.

 

Next time: Even though the outdoor cricket season is over for many Toronto youth, the sport's popularity has meant it can be played indoors. Canadian schools are now incorporating cricket in their sports curriculum for their multicultural students.