OTTAWA, Ont. - The federal government marked the start of Hindu Heritage Month on November 1 with a statement celebrating what it calls the remarkable contributions of Hindus in Canada.
“Today, we celebrate Hindu Heritage Month and the remarkable contributions of Hindus in Canada,” said Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Heritage and Minister responsible for Official Languages, in the November 1 statement from Canadian Heritage.
“For more than five millennia, Hindu traditions have shaped cultures, communities and ways of life around the world. Today, more than 1 billion people practise Hinduism, guided by a philosophy that values a respect for life, a pursuit of harmony and a belief that spirituality can find a place in our everyday experiences,” Miller said.
“Here in Canada, Hindu Canadians have made lasting contributions to our country, strengthening our communities through their ideas, talents and traditions. Their stories are an important part of our shared identity and heritage,” he said.
“Hindu Heritage Month is also an opportunity to appreciate the diversity that makes us stronger, recognize the many cultures and traditions that bring our communities together and celebrate the values we share,” Miller added, closing: “To everyone celebrating this November, I wish you a time of wonderful discoveries and great moments with loved ones. Happy Hindu Heritage Month!”
The month-long observance lands in the middle of the Diwali season. Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8, 2026, and Surrey-area families are already marking the season: Delta’s official Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas celebration, DIYAfest, takes place Saturday, November 7 at the North Delta Recreation Centre, and Surrey’s Diwali Fest finale follows at Surrey City Hall on November 15.
For Surrey’s South Asian community, the federal statement is a recognition of a month that is lived locally: in temples, in family gatherings, in Diwali lights, and in the contributions of Hindu neighbours, colleagues and business owners across Newton, Fleetwood, Guildford and Cloverdale.
(Source: Canadian Heritage statement, November 1, 2026)
