Pukaar crosses the Atlantic!

   Naomi Fraser, April 2006

After much planning, and more than a couple of long distance phone calls, Pukaar took its music, and latest album Peace on Earth, to snowy Canada.

The tour began at full speed, with Romail and Charles meeting up with the internationally renowned (Canada based) Bollywood musicians Raja Harrison (drums), Robin (tabla), Ruthie (dohl & dohluck) and Noil (base). Even the ever talkative Romail was star struck:

“Since childhood in Pakistan I dreamed of playing with Raja Harrison, I can’t believe my dream has become real…but not in Asia….but the other side of the globe!”

Together with these celebrities of the industry Pukaar performed to a full house at in Mississauga, Toronto. The event also featured a local gospel choir and solo artists all organised by All Nations Bible Church. It was a Canadian twist on the Pukaar curry party, everyone enjoying a spicy three course dinner. The night was a huge success, with several cries of “encore” for Peace of Earth’s track ‘Pawan Mar Dhamal’ while raising significant funds for a multi-cultural community centre for the city.

Next up, a trip around Toronto’s current community centres, a unique chance to learn about the similarities and differences between working with ethnic minority groups in Canada to the UK. Then a six hours drive across beautiful snowy landscapes to Montréal in the north. Here Pukaar performed alongside a broad range of local artists at a multi-cultural/multi-faith event. Attended by the city’s Mayor it was the first time anyone could recall all of the cultural community groups of the city coming together. We were very proud to be the initiators and main performers of such a unique event. Hopefully this was the first of many similar chances for the different communities of Montréal to come together and celebrate their differences.

Then, with no time to check out the sights, Romail returned to Toronto to meet up with Shahbaz Sindhu of Ujala. Renowned in Toronto’s communities for his multi-cultural entertainment events we were honoured for him to be holding serious discussions about building a Pukaar Toronto for the future. As a rapidly growing charity we know that our ideas for unifying communities through music and performance are unique, but we hadn’t dreamed of branching out across the Atlantic!

Finally, with a day to go Romail and Charles had a chance to relax and recover from their adventures, and what better way to do it than taking a trip up the CN Tower with AND Magazine! I hope you like the cheesy smiles Martin!!

Now, back in the UK, Pukaar’s amazing experiences of Canada will never be forgotten and we can’t wait to return. Look out for our next trip across the ocean and, who knows, you may soon see Pukaar in sunny Columbia!