prasad1
Active member
Indians abroad share their experiences about finding a slice of home in their adopted countries:
CANADAIn Canada, you'll find several 'Little India's' all over the country. If you're visiting Vancouver in British Columbia and you're missing home too much, head to Surrey and Punjabi market. In Calgary, Alberta make your way to north east Calgary and in Toronto, you'll find a taste of India at Gerrard Street.
What I miss about India
But home is home and there's a lot to be missed. It hurts to see that not many young adults (14-21 years) participate in the events and parades as they would in Mumbai. Most of them are still trying to figure out their cultural identity, and so their involvement is not as high, while in India, as young adults, we all stood for national pride, no matter what religion, region or language, and that is the one thing I miss.
Amanda D'Sa, Vancouver; Wafa Sarguroh, Toronto; Stephanie Nazareth, Calgary
NEW ZEALAND
You will find many from the Indian community living in Sandringham, a surburb in Auckland. There are several Indian restaurants, where you can get chaat as well as take-aways, but when it comes to taste, it doesn't match up to the food you get in India.
Cultural programmes are held during Diwali in the main city square called Aoeta Square with part of Queens Street turned into a mini-market for Indian sweets and food.
What I miss about India
I miss Hearsch, Andorra and Candies which I'm sure I won't find here. The pani puri, samosas batata vadas... dont taste the same as the ones you get in Mumbai, so I definitely miss that as well.
- Gavin Pereira, Auckland
ENGLAND
Southall is considered to be the 'Little India' of London and the streets here, cater to the huge population of Pakistanis and Indians, who live there. The moment you enter Southall you feel like you have been magically transported back to India, a typical feast for your senses. You will find it all; high-couture salwars, sequined sarees, mouth-watering jalebis, the aromas of samosas and wada pav, the sound of Punjabi music blaring in your ears while you relish your pani puri or 'gol guppa'.
What I miss about India
I miss the amazing seafood we get at Gajalee in Mumbai. The seafood thalis there are just so scrumptious and I have not been able to find anything that comes close to our bombil fry, thisrya masala and tandoori crabs.
-Berlyn Marilyn Fernandes, London
KENYA
Highridge in Parklands is the 'Little India' of Nairobi and you can find almost everything Indian–chaat, footwear, paan and bhajiya shops, fast food joints, etc. If you stroll around Highridge, you'll find the ground floor of most buildings occupied by Indian stores selling saris as well as salons, hardware stores and restaurants. There's also a restaurant called Chowpatty, where you get quite good chaat. The supermarket sells Indian herbs, groceries and even Ayurvedic medicines.
What I miss about India
I miss the excitement and vibrant life of India, especially during festivals. It's not the same!
-Deepa Shah, Nairobi
SINGAPORE
Not too far from the Central Business District (CBD), in Singapore is the suburb called Little India, which has its own MRT station. It's one of most vibrant and busiest places in Singapore, giving you an authentic feel of being in India. Serangoon road which runs right through the district has many sari stores, baniyas selling groceries, shops selling spices and flowers, roadside DVD vendors, posters of Bollywood / Tollywood movies and actors, jewellery stores, Indian restaurants, temples and lots more... And of course, you cannot miss the multi-storeyed 24x7 Mustafa Shopping Centre, where you can buy anything under the sun at the cheapest prices in Singapore.
What I miss about India
Surprisingly, there's not much to miss from India since you have get almost everything here... well, except maybe Goa sausages.
-Amanda Furtado and Abhishek Parmar, Marine Parade; Saurabh Menon, Buona Vista
Little India around the world | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis
CANADAIn Canada, you'll find several 'Little India's' all over the country. If you're visiting Vancouver in British Columbia and you're missing home too much, head to Surrey and Punjabi market. In Calgary, Alberta make your way to north east Calgary and in Toronto, you'll find a taste of India at Gerrard Street.
What I miss about India
But home is home and there's a lot to be missed. It hurts to see that not many young adults (14-21 years) participate in the events and parades as they would in Mumbai. Most of them are still trying to figure out their cultural identity, and so their involvement is not as high, while in India, as young adults, we all stood for national pride, no matter what religion, region or language, and that is the one thing I miss.
Amanda D'Sa, Vancouver; Wafa Sarguroh, Toronto; Stephanie Nazareth, Calgary
NEW ZEALAND
You will find many from the Indian community living in Sandringham, a surburb in Auckland. There are several Indian restaurants, where you can get chaat as well as take-aways, but when it comes to taste, it doesn't match up to the food you get in India.
Cultural programmes are held during Diwali in the main city square called Aoeta Square with part of Queens Street turned into a mini-market for Indian sweets and food.
What I miss about India
I miss Hearsch, Andorra and Candies which I'm sure I won't find here. The pani puri, samosas batata vadas... dont taste the same as the ones you get in Mumbai, so I definitely miss that as well.
- Gavin Pereira, Auckland
ENGLAND
Southall is considered to be the 'Little India' of London and the streets here, cater to the huge population of Pakistanis and Indians, who live there. The moment you enter Southall you feel like you have been magically transported back to India, a typical feast for your senses. You will find it all; high-couture salwars, sequined sarees, mouth-watering jalebis, the aromas of samosas and wada pav, the sound of Punjabi music blaring in your ears while you relish your pani puri or 'gol guppa'.
What I miss about India
I miss the amazing seafood we get at Gajalee in Mumbai. The seafood thalis there are just so scrumptious and I have not been able to find anything that comes close to our bombil fry, thisrya masala and tandoori crabs.
-Berlyn Marilyn Fernandes, London
KENYA
Highridge in Parklands is the 'Little India' of Nairobi and you can find almost everything Indian–chaat, footwear, paan and bhajiya shops, fast food joints, etc. If you stroll around Highridge, you'll find the ground floor of most buildings occupied by Indian stores selling saris as well as salons, hardware stores and restaurants. There's also a restaurant called Chowpatty, where you get quite good chaat. The supermarket sells Indian herbs, groceries and even Ayurvedic medicines.
What I miss about India
I miss the excitement and vibrant life of India, especially during festivals. It's not the same!
-Deepa Shah, Nairobi
SINGAPORE
Not too far from the Central Business District (CBD), in Singapore is the suburb called Little India, which has its own MRT station. It's one of most vibrant and busiest places in Singapore, giving you an authentic feel of being in India. Serangoon road which runs right through the district has many sari stores, baniyas selling groceries, shops selling spices and flowers, roadside DVD vendors, posters of Bollywood / Tollywood movies and actors, jewellery stores, Indian restaurants, temples and lots more... And of course, you cannot miss the multi-storeyed 24x7 Mustafa Shopping Centre, where you can buy anything under the sun at the cheapest prices in Singapore.
What I miss about India
Surprisingly, there's not much to miss from India since you have get almost everything here... well, except maybe Goa sausages.
-Amanda Furtado and Abhishek Parmar, Marine Parade; Saurabh Menon, Buona Vista
Little India around the world | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis
