Canada: Alberta Govt Declares August As Hindu Heritage Month To Spread Awareness About Hindu Traditions

Alberta, a province in western Canada, has announced that the month of August will be recognised as the Hindu Heritage Month every year to show gratitude towards the works done by the Hindu community.

“Alberta’s government is proud to announce that August will be recognized as Hindu Heritage Month in Alberta going forward. This is an important way to show our appreciation for the Hindu community and all that they do to strengthen this great province," reads a Joint Statement issued by Alberta's Minister of Culture Ron Orr and Associate Minister of Immigration Muhammad Yaseen.

“Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Hindu temples in Alberta stepped up to support their members and the wider community through neighbourhood food banks. This exemplifies the generosity of Alberta’s Hindu community," the statement added.

The statement added that the Hindu Heritage Month provides an opportunity to all Albertans to learn more about Hindu faith and culture as well as "celebrate Albertans of Hindu heritage and help build inclusive, welcoming communities for all".

“On behalf of the Government of Alberta, we hope Hindu community members have a wonderful month celebrating their faith, customs and traditions of their heritage," the statement reads.

According to an order by the Alberta Lieutenant General, August is a significant month for Hindu communities as it coincides with Raksha Bandhan, the commemoration of Lord Krishna's birthdate and India's Independence Day.

The order further said that "celebrating Hindu heritage provides an excellent opportunity for Albertans to learn more about Hindu traditions and develop a greater appreciation of the beliefs and practices of their Hindu neighbours'.

Earlier In July, the Mayor of the Township of Edison in US' New Jersey recognised July as ‘Hindu persecution awareness month.’

The development comes as a major victory for the Hindu community in the United States who have struggling to make universities and college campuses aware of the perils of Hinduphobia.

In 2016, the government of Ontario, another province in Canada, had declared the month of November every year as Hindu Heritage Month.