EDWARDS: Ontario – More than 800 Ismailis from Ottawa, Kingston, Montreal and other areas attended Ottawa’s annual Jamati picnic at Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane farm here on Sunday.
The crowds, made up of young and old, joined in communal feasting, fun, games, and traditional dandiya raas.
Bashir Surani, president of the Aga Khan District Council of Ottawa, explained the Jamat look forward with much anticipation to the popular annual picnic.
“The weather certainly cooperated this year,” he said, hinting he plans to explore the possibility of organizing a mammoth joint picnic in the future with the evergrowing Jamat from Montreal.
There was no shortage of mouthwatering foods, which included bhajiya, barbecued chicken and ribs and other delicacies and a multitude of fun events.
Once again this year, the musical entertainment was provided by the talented sister and brother team of Saba and Danyal Rawjani who dished out classical, oldies, devotional and Bollywood songs.
New this year was a friendly cricket game between India and Pakistan.
Surani said a joint picnic with Jamat from Ottawa and Montreal could bring thousands together for a funfilled day.
(Submitted by Sultan Jessa, who also took the photographs)
Ismailimail 