Every November, Kitchener Public Library celebrates Hindu Heritage Month and the many contributions of Hindu people across Canada. Canada began recognizing Hindu Heritage Month in 2022, but the story of the Hindu people began much earlier. Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and its history reaches back thousands of years.
One ancient Hindu festival is Diwali, the festival of lights. Today, Diwali is one of the largest festivals that the Hindu community celebrates. Depending on the year and the cycle of the moon, Diwali falls during October or November. This year Diwali is celebrated from October 31 to November 1. We had a great time at our Celebrate Diwali event on Saturday, October 26 at Central Library!
Hindu Heritage Month is a great opportunity to learn more about Hindu culture and the varying perspectives of those in the Hindu community.
Photo from Celebrate Diwali at Central Library.
Kitchener Public Library Resources
Curated Reading Lists
One way to learn more about Hindu culture is to spend some time reading! Whether you prefer to learn through stories or non-fiction titles, we've got you covered with these reading lists. Check out the Hindu Heritage Month reading list for children and the reading list for adults.
Virtual Library Resources
You can learn more about Hinduism through resources in our Virtual Library. The Virtual Library is a collection of online resources that you can access for free with your library card. Kanopy is one of our favourite Virtual Library resources. It is a streaming service for quality, thoughtful entertainment. We've chosen three Kanopy titles that can help you explore Hinduism:
- Art of Faith II is a visual experience that explores the architecture and art of various religions. Hinduism is the focus of episode two in this series.
- A Kali Temple Inside Out portrays everyday life at a Hindu temple in Kanpur, India. The Hindu temple in this documentary is dedicated to Kali, a Hindu goddess.
- What is Hinduism? follows the host, Tevya, on his spiritual quest. He attends Durga Puja and learns more about Hinduism.
Community Resources
Enjoy exploring these resources for Hindu Heritage Month!