Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau marked Diwali with the Indo-Canadian community this past week, sharing a glimpse of his celebrations on social media. In a post on X, Trudeau extended warm wishes, saying, “Happy Diwali! So many special moments shared celebrating with the community this week.” The video showed Trudeau receiving sacred threads from three Hindu temples across Canada, which he described as good-luck charms, vowing to wear them until they “fall off.”
Happy Diwali!
So many special moments shared celebrating with the community this week. pic.twitter.com/rCTrJx6OMc
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 2, 2024
During the celebrations, he was also gifted a plate of jalebis, playfully adding that he would “save for the team.” Trudeau had previously sent Diwali greetings to Canadians on October 31, recognizing the cultural significance of the festival and the contributions of the Indo-Canadian community. “Indo-Canadians represent the best of Canada,” Trudeau stated, noting their achievements in various fields, and celebrated the “light they carry across Canada’s communities.”
However, Trudeau’s Diwali greetings come amid ongoing diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, following his claim in September that India was involved in the assassination of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has firmly denied these allegations, asserting that there is “no shred of evidence” implicating its government in the incident. The diplomatic strain has led both nations to withdraw some of their diplomats, escalating safety concerns on both sides.