Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is known for embracing the cultural diversity that permeates present-day Canada, which is why it comes across as no surprise that the PM celebrated Diwali with the Indian community in Ottawa.
The High Commissioner of India to Canada, Vikas Swarup, was also present during the celebrations.
The PM posted a photo on his Twitter account, in which he can be seen clad in a black Sherwani and lighting up diyas.
However, Trudeau was called out by several Twitter users for using the word ‘Mubarak’ in stead of saying ‘Shubh Diwali’ or even ‘Happy Diwali’.
‘Mubarak,’ which means ‘blessed’ in Arabic, was seen as an error by many of these users, who then proceeded to correct Trudeau.
The words ‘Pakistani’ and ‘Islam’ were also thrown around.
There were, however, a few who chose to overlook the faux-pas and urged others to do the same, and appreciate instead the spirit with which Trudeau had celebrated the festival and wished others.
Trudeau has frequently been lauded for embracing cultural diversity, as opposed to his US counterpart Donald Trump.
It is worth noting how the phrase ‘Happy Diwali,’ which is a non-Hindu, non-Indian, and non-traditional greeting, is seen as acceptable, secular even (though it comes from the West and may thus be associated with Christianity), whereas ‘Diwali Mubarak’ is not merely Arabic, but also Islamic, non-Indian, and even Pakistani.
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