Downtown #VictoriaBC will be filled with music, colour and tradition on April 11 as the Victoria #BengaliCulturalSociety hosts its first outdoor celebration of #PohelaBoishakh - the #Bengali #NewYear. The #FreeEvent, set for #CentennialSquare at noon, marks a milestone for the local Bengali community, bringing one of its most recognized #cultural traditions into the public square. For the first time in Victoria, organizers will stage the #MongolShobhajatra -a “parade of well-being” recognized by #UNESCO. The procession will feature large, handcrafted masks and vibrant artistic structures, accompanied by drumming and music symbolizing #peace and #unity.

The parade is expected to begin around 1 p.m. The celebration will also include live Bengali music and dance performances, a food fair showcasing #SouthAsian cuisine, and vendor stalls offering traditional clothing and handmade goods. Organizers say the event is meant to highlight the #diversity of #cultures on #VancouverIsland while offering residents a chance to engage with Bengali traditions.

https://www.vbcscanada.com/
https://saanichnews.com/2026/04/05/victoria-to-host-first-outdoor-bengali-new-year-celebration-and-parade/

#CommunityEvent #CommunityBuilding #CulturalConnecting #SouthEastAsians #AsianMastodon #CulturalEvent #FamilyFriendly #YYJEvents #CulturalFood #CulturalMusic #GlobalSouthDiaspora #AsianDiaspora #VanIsle #ArtsAndCulture #CommunityDiversity

I'm laughing so hard at what my Mom just said to me, while asking her if she's still up for sharing her lived experiences from just after we fled Saigon, to two refugee camps, to being sponsored by a Canadian group of church folks to adjusting to life in Canada, in first few years.

Mom said: I remember that you pooped a lot....a lot more than your little brothers. Your Dad called you a toddler shit factory. We'd be rich, if we could have sold your Saigon baby Buddha poop.
What?!? 🤣😂😅 My parents actually discussed this, in depth, before fleeing Saigon.

#AsianMastodon #SouthEastAsians #Vietnam #BoatPeople #AsianDiaspora #Displacement #WarSurvivorsForPeace

Every Friday, I meet a member of the British Fantasy society and peer deep into their soul (or, at least, a form they filled out). We're dipping into the world of Chinese legends this week with Eric Huang, whose children's books are inspired by the bedtime stories his father told.

Eric's also part of the team bringing you Imaginarium this Sunday, a celebration of East and South East Asian speculative fiction. Link in the profile!

https://britishfantasysociety.org/meet-eric-huang/

#writers #writing #asianDiaspora