Hi Ali Shabbir:

You don't need to worry. There are thousands of muslims live in apartments near Midland-Lawrence ave. intersection in scarborough. In these apartments, nearly 75% residents are muslims. I don't know if they belong to your community.

Good Luck.

Hi heaven,

thank u for your reply.... I was just curious 'cause as i'll be leaving all behind so I don't wanna miss anything specialy the month of muharum...but I guess some guy's took it in a wrong sence....

At the intersection of Lawrence and Markham there are quite a few apartment complex. Almost all people living there are Gujarati Muslims - I think the Bohras.

In certain areas Pakistani Muslims and in some areas Bangladeshi Muslims are more. And ofcourse there are tons of people from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq etc.

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A Proud Indian Canadian

My message was directed to Ali Shabbir. He and many Desi muslims understand what I mean. FYI for all, I put the word caste in quotes and I completely understand what Shia means.

What I was trying to communicate (apparently not effectively) is exactly what others are pointing out. The increasing ghettoism and divisive labeling is marginalizing desi's in Canada. We are inflicting this on ourselves, our brothers and sisters. There was a time when seeing another desi was an exciting moment. Yes, being desi is a label but a self evident label due to the colour of our skin. Nobody cared what religion, what caste, what background etc the other person was.

Now we have areas where bohra's live, some people ask to make friends with gujratis only, someone wants to find not only a brahmin society (which is ridiculous unto itself) but a Goud Saraswati Brahmin society.

We as desis in Canada have an opportunity to build a desi society in Canada that is free of these shackles that have held back India for centuries. India is finally getting over them, and we are importing it here. Why?

And before we bring up the idea of celebrating festivals and finding foods. Let me tell you that Shia eat the same foods as you and I. Would we not celebrate Diwali and Eid and Baisakhi if we lived anywhere in Canada? Would living next to a Shia stop you from celebrating Diwali? Isn't it enough to know and help a fellow Desi. Why does your neighbour have to be a shia to celebrate muharrum? BTW I know what Muharrum is and that was rhetorical question.

BV

BV .... would reply to you in detail later .... but I would like to point out that I feel sorry for you if you feel that one's cultural identity is any way a "shackle". It is just simple .... if our friend Ali is looking for Shia community, he wants to live in an area which would have a sizeable community & as such will have bussinesses ( like shops/restaurant selling food etc.)& cultural/religious places of his own kind. Now you will find Italians or Portugese living in one part of the city ..... they are not creating problems for anyone .... so why would some people of caste / religion staying in a particular area create a problem .... Ghetoism as you call it.

On another note if i go and buy a few bags of Fertilizer from a shop, I dont want people screaming blue murder.

BV,

It is not a question of having your neighbour from the same religion as you are. You can celebrate the festival with four walls of your house/apartment no one can stop you, but celebrating within walls and celebrating with a larger community do make difference.

Toronto has a great segregation of people - Just drive around wood bridge area and you will see all Italians.

This is human tendency. May be now you are already settled and do not care about the community (BTW, you do, and this is why you are on CanadianDesi), but for someone who does not know anyone in Canada it is a big help.

BTW, community does not mean only religion or cast. It could be language, it could be people from the same city, it could be same profession.

Now as the community grows you may have sub-communities. In toronto you will see all kinds of Samaj, however if you go to small cities, you will see only one organization "Sudbury Hindu Samaj" for example.

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A Proud Indian Canadian

I wanna clear something here... asking for the shia community was not because I don't wanna live or make contact with any one else... We have many friends here in pakistan including Indian's also. I know a guy who deals in computer's in my city (sialkot) well known for its sports industry and he is an Indian. we have a good relation. The thing is leaving your home land , your roots and migrating to a new place is not that easy for everyone. Although I will find many good friends like you guy's in canada but still you know if I got to know any shia fellow and our religious place like imambargha's I will feel like at home.

If I only wanted to live in the shia comunity I am very happy here in pakistan or as one of my desi friend told me to go to Iran or Iraq I would have gone there...But Canada is a nice place and it will give my children a better future. As far as festival's are concerened I would love to celibrate Devali with my Indian friend's. But Big Vee let me correct you that Muharam is not a clebration!.

Any way guy's it was just a simple question... hope it did'nt hurt anyone's feeling's..

ali.