Tamil Heritage Month celebrated at event in Halifax

CBC
·1 min read
The Tamil Heritage Month event featured many cultural performances. (Vernon Ramesar/CBC - image credit)
The Tamil Heritage Month event featured many cultural performances. (Vernon Ramesar/CBC - image credit)

Members of the Tamil community in Nova Scotia came out in numbers on Saturday to celebrate Tamil Heritage Month at the Halifax Forum multi-purpose centre.

Organizers estimated that more than 800 people attended despite stormy weather.

January was proclaimed Tamil Heritage Month by Parliament in 2016. The month celebrates Tamil language and culture and the contributions Tamils have made to Canada.

Valarmathy Kaliaperumal, president of the Maritime Tamil Welfare Association, said the Tamil population in Nova Scotia was about 1,500 in 2016, but has tripled since.

Organizers estimate about 800 people attended despite the bad weather
Organizers estimate about 800 people attended despite the bad weather

Organizers estimate about 800 people attended despite the bad weather. (Vernon Ramesar/CBC)

Valarmathy Kaliaperumal is president of the Maritime Tamil Welfare Association
Valarmathy Kaliaperumal is president of the Maritime Tamil Welfare Association

Valarmathy Kaliaperumal is president of the Maritime Tamil Welfare Association. (Vernon Ramesar/CBC)

She said the event was not just about celebrating the community but a way of exposing more Nova Scotians to Tamil culture.

One side of the hall was dedicated to booths selling Tamil clothing and accessories
One side of the hall was dedicated to booths selling Tamil clothing and accessories

One side of the hall was dedicated to booths selling Tamil clothing and accessories. (Vernon Ramesar/CBC)

One side of the room was dedicated to shopping booths and the other to people sampling and buying traditional Tamil foods.

Many people were drawn to the selection of Tamil foods available at the event.
Many people were drawn to the selection of Tamil foods available at the event.

Many people were drawn to the selection of Tamil foods available. (Vernon Ramesar/CBC)

The main stage featured a number of cultural performances, including children doing traditional Tamil dances.

Children performing cultural dances were prominent on the main stage
Children performing cultural dances were prominent on the main stage

Children performing cultural dances were prominent on the main stage. (Vernon Ramesar/CBC)

According to Kaliaperumal, the event allows Tamil children who are away from their homeland experience the diversity and vibrancy of their culture.

Children performing a traditional Tamil dance on the main stage of the event.
Children performing a traditional Tamil dance on the main stage of the event.

Children perform a traditional Tamil dance. (Vernon Ramesar/CBC)

Kaliaperumal said she was gratified by the turnout and the association wants to do even more next year.

"We are planning, hopefully, to have two-day event next year with the population and with all the cultural performances that we have," she said.

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