Posts Tagged ‘walking’

Here Comes Santa Claus!

Posted: November 19, 2018 in events, people
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Santa Claus Parade 2018

a girl with a red hat with red reindeer ears stands on the street on a parade route, a group of policemen is in the background.

The 114th annual Santa Claus parade filled the streets with lots of fun and excitement.

two young boys on the sidewalk enthusiastic cheering for the parade

Floats, clowns, and hundreds of characters in costumes.

a clown in red polka dot clothes and bright red wig, smiles as she stands beside a float at Santa Claus parade with a large Carlton Bear, the Toronto Maple Leafs mascot

And people, lots of people!

a clown with bright orange hair and a multi coloured outfit, in front of a crowd outside

a man poses in an instagram frame that is being held by two clowns with bright orange hair

a father holds a toddler son in his arms, outside, beside the street, with crowds watching parade, winter, warm coats and hats

a clown in polka dot outfit and red wig bends down to high five with kids on the sidewalk who are watching the parade

a clown with a bright red nose walks in a parade, in front of people dressed as snowmen with red scarves and black belts, clown has a chequered outfit on, in primary colours plus green

three people involved with the Santa Claus parade pose for a picture. A woman in a red cardinal costume, a girl with a light blue wig holding an oversized gingerbread cookie with white icing, and another girl in a shiny blue and orange outfit

a man in a fuzzy grey animal costume waves to the crowd on the sidewalk at the Santa Claus parade

two girls sitting together on a float at the Santa Claus parade, shiny green and purple costumes

a group of people on the sidewalk watching a parade, kids in front on chairs and under blankets, parents behind standing.

young woman with rainbow wig, and bright coloured clothes, clown in a parade

3 girls dressed as clowns with rainbow wigs, and big red noses.

girl with hat with shiny red reindeer ears, also sunglasses

a girl in red and white striped hat and outfit, and red mitts, sits on a float in the Santa Claus parade and waves to the crowd

a man dressed as a tin soldier walks in a parade, waving to the crowd wearing white gloves & red uniform

three kids sitting on the kerb reach out a hand to shake the hands of a clown wearing white gloves

two women are dressed as flowers in terra cotta flower pots, walking down the street in a parade, followed by some people dressed in black and yellow bumble bee costumes

a woman leans back in a golf cart, marshall & crowd control, before the start of a parade,

a kid's head is in the middle of a red petal flower

two girls waving to the crowd as they walk in a parade, white gloves, turquoise outfits, shiny star shaped crowns on their heads

a child in red glasses is inside a bacon costume.

man in straw cowboy hat, red and white bandana, yellow shirt and cow print vest, smiles and holds hand up at shoulder level

a young girl in a red and white outfit holds a pole that is part of a large Chines dragon, she is watching the others with poles

clowns in purple and green outfits and many colours in their wigs, walking in Santa Claus parade

a male clown in pink wig and pink and yellow ruffle collar, large floppy blue hat and lots of make-up on his face

two girls on a float at the Santa Claus parade, dressed in shiny blue clothes with fuzzy white furry trim, smiling and looking at the camera

two camera men with large video cameras filming the Santa Claus parade

older man with grey hair, beard & moustache, and slightly balding, talks to another clown in a bright yellow wig

man's face, wearing sunglasses in the middle of an orange and yellow flower, part of Santa Claus parade

woman with long black hair, smiling, in a parade, wearing a red and white costume with ivy on the hat and a cape

a woman with long black hair stands waiting for her turn in the parade, wearing a shiny blue and gold costume and holding an oversized replica of a gingerbread cookie shaped like a Christmas tree with green frosting and red frosting

man dressed as Santa Claus in a parade

And of course, Santa Claus at the end of the parade sitting in his sleigh with toys and Christmas surprises.  The star of the parade, the person everyone came to see.

Santa Claus stands in his sleigh that is being pulled by reindeer on the top of a float in the Santa Claus parade.

29 July – another Pedestrian Sunday

Posted: July 30, 2018 in events, people
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People watching at Kensington Pedestrian Sunday

a woman in white sleeveless top and with very red dyed very curly hair, carrying a bottle of ginger beer,

a young black man in black wide brimmed hat sings in front of a microphone, part of a band performing ouside in front of a mural on a wall

below: The Spontaneous Poet, poet 4 hire

woman with green felt hat with floppy brim, smoking a cigarette, sitting at a small table and typing on an old Smith Corona typewriter. She has a sign on the table that says, poet for hite, the spontaneous poet.

older man with white beard and mustache, wearing sunglasses and teal baseball cap, leans on a garbage can while smoking a cigarette

a young black woman with long dreadlocks has a large snake on her forearm, she's smiling. A man with grey grey beard and moustache watches her.

man standing in an alley with street art on one wall, holding a guitar, he has just finished playing and singing, a man is behind him on a bike

balding black man with the Queen of hearts playing card stuck on his head makes a muscle man stance with fists clenched, he's performing magic tricks while people watch him

below: #whatsvictorupto painting the word ‘together’ on the sidewalk.

victor painting on the sidewalk in Kensington. He's wearing a shiny sparkly mask over the top of his head. people are walking past #whatsvictorupto

an older man in tweed jacket and cap with long white beard and mustache, black rim glasses, white plastic bag over one arm, walks down the street

young black man dancing on the street, part of a group, Pedestrian Sunday afternoon at Kensington, people in the background watching

young Asian womanin a straw coloured wide brimmed hat, smiling as she dances, she is holding the brim of her hat with both hands so it doesn't fall off

a male mime, black hamburg hat, lime green shirt, black suspenders and red carnation on the suspenders, beckoning to the crowd, outside, street festival, pedestrian sunday at kensington

a black man dances on the street, slow dance, with an older blond woman,

two women dancing, one with long hair on the top but shaved on the sides, wearing an intricate black necklace, double, one woman in focus in the front, the other slightly out of focus, purple and black sleeveless tops, close up of head and shoulders and one hand with grey fingernails

woman in short velvet close fitting top, large necklace, and holding a white parasol walks down a street in a crowd of people

young girl in Minnie Mouse tshirt and frilly pink skirt, pacifier in mouth, sits on the street beside a bike while she watched a performer, summer afternoon,

black woman with very short hair, round sunglasses and white top, wearing many strands of beads, sitting on a bench on her phone

a man wearing a purple vest and white hat, stands on stilts with long trousers covering, juggling 4 different coloured bats (or pins?) shaped a bit like bowling pins, two in his hands and two in the air. outside on the street

 

Saturday afternoon in the city

Posted: July 21, 2018 in people
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A Saturday walk about with friends

a group of people walking over the raised pedestrian bridge between the Eaton Centre and the Bay, 4 women, one man and a boy

Looking at people.  Ordinary people.  Going about their summer lives.

man with beard and moustache, one a bike that is stopped in front of a red and white TTC bus, man wearing a blue baseball cap with red Air Canada maple leaf logo on it

young Asian woman under a black umbrella, standing in a TTC bus shelter, reflections off her umbrella of other people, plus a stella artois beer ad

man in an apple store, orange T-shirt, leaning on the counter, with headphones on, looking closely at the screen of a laptop, other men in the store too

a young woman with bright yellow hair tied back in a short ponytail, tattoo covering most of her arms and upper part of body that is visible , wearing sleeveless black top, walking past Cheese Magic shop in Kensington market, Toronto

two people, one is a woman holding a coffee cup from Jimmys Coffee, she is laughing. The other is black, hair tied back, pink long sleeved shirt and sleeveless jean jacket, scowling,

a tanned older man in sleeveless black shirt leans against metal railing at the Eaton Centre, mannequins in a store window behind him, womens' sporting wear

a man sits with his son on the floor of the Eaton Centre, next to the glass railing. reflections from the railing make it look like there are two boys

looking into the window of a women's wear store, two dresses, on mannequins, each holding a handbag. a red dress and a dress with big red flowers, a red head woman is standing beside the mannequins

people walking across pedestrian bridge between the Eaton Centre and the Bay, one woman has long light pink hair and is wearing jeans with many rips and holes in the front,

a couple sitting in a restaurant, across from each other, in the window, window is open, drinks on the table . Woman has glass of white wine, man has something orange

a woman standa against an exterior wall, beside a tottoo place. The word tattoo is in large yellow letters beside her, her hair is multicoloured, she is wearing a short dress, knee bent with one foot against the wall, phone in hand, black jacket over her shoulders

three people sitting on a concrete bench outdoors at Yonge Dundas Square. An older woman with teal long sleeeved shirt and light blue hat, a man in a white t-shirt with black moustache, with a woman leaning against his shoulder with her eyes closed

a couple standing facing each other, talking to each other,

an older woman carrying a pale purple umbrella, and a handbag with pictures of cats on it, a blouse with orange flowers on it

mother and son posing for picture, Asian, boy is lying on the ground between his mother's feet

bald black man with black sunglasses is taking a selfie while holding a large ice cream cone

a young man holds a sign that says hug me we need it

black man with blue t-shirt holds a blue bubble maker and he is making bubbles as he walks down the street

young woman in sunglasses poses in front of a fountain

couple, one is smoking, man in yellowish orange shirt, standing by a chinese restaurant, pictures of the food on the wall behind them.

switching into summer

Posted: May 23, 2018 in people
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The weather’s been all over the place, warm, cold, hot, cold again, back and forth…. like May weather usually is.  We were fortunate to have great weather this past holiday Monday and a lot of people took advantage of the day!  As I walked around, this is some of what I saw.

a man stands and watches another man playing the drums outside on Yonge street, some other people standing around too

by the fountain at Nathan Phillips Square, a man dressed in orange hugs a man dressed in brown who is checking his phone after just taking a selfie

women and men standing outside the Eaton Centre on Yonge street

people crossing the street at an intersection, a woman in a pink top and white sweater is pushing a stroller with a fluffy small white dog in it, a man in a blue Jay t shirt, camo jacket and baseball hat, smoking a cigarette, is walking beside her

Graffiti alley, walking past an uber 5000 mural, a man and a woman with their backs to the camera. on the back of the man's camo coloured jacket are the words true freedom is being unknown

two women in the O of the 3D Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips square in front of city hall, examining photos that they have taken on their phone

2 young men and 2 young women walking down Graffiti Alley

a woman in a purple dress is sitting on the sidewalk, patting the cat wearing the superman costume that is sitting on a box. other people standing around, corner of Yonge and Dundas

a girl and her mother playing in the fountain at Nathan Phillips Square, in front of city hall,

a woman in jeans and pink top poses in the doorway of one of the back doors in Graffiti Alley

a week later, a season later.

Posted: April 22, 2018 in alleys, graffiti and street art, people, reflections
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Last weekend

a three D sculpture of a man's face, on a wall, outside, graffiti, forlorn expression on his face

This weekend

the word believe is written in yellow ribbon that has been woven into a chainlink fence around a tennis court, two women on a bench to the side of it, park,

I hope that you all had a great weekend!  It was fabulous to be out and about enjoying the warm weather – everyone is happier when the sun shines and the snow melts!  The following pictures were taken today when I was out walking along Queen West, people watching as I went.

street art graffiti that says vida in large letters along the side of a metal staircase, upper story of an orange brick building

below: Street artist SKAM and his graffiti tag.   The original was painted in 2012 and had not been tagged over or messed up too much.  Some of the paint was peeling so it was time for a make over.

street artist skam is painting text graffiti (his name, tag) in greens and blues on a wall in Graffiti Alley

below: Part of the latest Uber5000 mural is reflected in the window as SKAM paints.

two young women walking on the sidewalk, both with skateboards and Starbucks drinks, summer clothing,

a woman with magenta hair is standing on the sidewalk, back against a wall.

below: Trinity Bellwoods Park  (This is also where the ‘believe’ in yellow is woven into the chainlink fence – photo above).

an older couple sitting on a bench in a park, talking to each other, the man is using his arms expressively

below: The albino squirrel of Trinity Bellwoods Park – he’s up here somewhere!

a boy looks up a tree, a white albino squirrel is headed down the other side of the tree trunk

below: Found him!

a white albino squirrel is on the ground beside a small tree with daffodils starting to grow up beside, a young boy is walking towards the squirrel

below: Reaching for a coffee

a window with mannequins in long dresses, teal and magenta fabric, reflections of woman passing by with a coffee cup in her hand

below: Walking the dog!

a family goes for a walk in the park, dad is pushing the stroller, mom on phone, young daughter pulling a pink leash with a toy dog on it.

a man outside, standing on sidewalk, with a plate of food and a cup of coffee,, with his phone in his hands

below: It wasn’t a happy day for everyone.

An older Chinese woman is pushing a cart with a large clear plastic bag full of empty aluminium cans, a Chinese man with a similar cart is behind her, other people out walking on the sidewalk

below: Smoking room

an older woman in pink running shoes and leopard print fuzzy jacket is sitting in a bus shelter, smoking a cigarette,

two women standing on the sidewalk near lots of parked bikes. One is wearing a short floral skirt and the other is in skimpy white shorts and low necked white top

below: Supporting the locals.  It’s also play-off time of the year and this year both the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Maple Leafs are still in the playoffs in their respective sports.

three flags hanging outside a window, a Raptos flag (Toronto basketball) and a Maple Leafs flag (Toronto hockey) as well as a rainbow pride flag

Welcome spring!

a small black and white daisy drawing on a sticker on a wall that is covered with bright paint

All For One in first

Posted: December 11, 2017 in events, people
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On Saturday Toronto FC, Toronto’s pro soccer team, won the MLS (Major League Soccer) championship when they beat the Seattle Sounders 2 – 0 in the finals.  To celebrate, there was a parade from Maple Leaf Square, near the Air Canada Centre, up Bay street to Nathan Phillips Square.

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white, police escort at the front of the parade

kids sitting on a float, waving tfc flags, dressed in red and white

float being pulled by a car in the tfc parade on Bay Street, December 2017

The team was founded in 2005 and began playing in 2007.   They were the first Canadian team in Major League Soccer.  Since then, 2 other Canadian teams have joined the league, Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact.  There are 22 teams altogether.

below: A line of photographers join the parade

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white, photographers walk in a line in front of one of the banners in the tfc parade up Bay street to celebrate thesoccerteam's championship win

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white, men holding a banner

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white, young boy helping to hold a banner as they walk in a parade

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white, a group of men fans wearing red and white tfc team scarves

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white, a group holding a banner as they walk

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white,

a reporter holding a microphone, interviewing a couple who are watching the Tornto FC parade, she is holding a large red 2 and he is holding a large red 3, the number 23, They are wearing tfc hats andscarves and sweatshirts

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white, a man wearing a large tfc team flag

below: Outside Nathan Phillips Square.

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white, crowd in front of Nathan Phillips Square, team and fans on open top double decker red bus, two policemen on horses,

below: She had the action happening right in front of her – including me!

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white, group holding three large flags

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white, father with young child on his shoulders as he takes a selfie, tfc scarf

below: The team players made their entrance into Nathan Phillips Square with lots of people lining the barricades.  You’ll notice that I have no photos of the players themselves.  It was just too crowded.   Besides, I have more interest in the fans and supporters!

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white,

below: ‘All For One’ in the Toronto FC motto.

people in Nathan Phillips Square, including all along the south ramp. Banner over the entrancethat says, All For One, which is the tfc motto

Toronto FC parade, people dressed in red and white, wearing red and white toque and scarf and waving a tfc team flag

The space in front of City Hall was crowded!  Hundreds of fans in red and white filled most of the available spaces around the Christmas Fair booths.  They also lined all the upper ramps and walkways.  There were speeches and then…..  I will admit to running off to find a warm drink in a warm place instead of sticking around to listen!  I don’t follow soccer but considering the size of the crowd today plus the fact that attendance at a TFC game averages over 27,000, many others do follow it…..  soccer has definitely found a home in Toronto.

from the back, a youngman holds out a flare

women in a crowd of Toronto FC supporters in a parade

four boys in red and white at a parade

sunny days

Posted: June 4, 2017 in general Toronto, people
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This morning’s blog post is a mixed up mashed up collection of some of the pictures that I have taken in the past few days. The theme running through the post is “sunny days and people making the most of it.”  It seems like an appropriate subject for a grey morning!

below: #duckman, one of the many ‘performers’ outside the Eaton Centre on Yonge Street.

a young Japanese man is dressed in a yellow body suit, seated on a stool on the sidewalk on Yonge Street, he is playing the drums - actually 5 empty plastic upside down buckets, with #duckman written on the buckets

below: The beginnings of a new mural on Queen Street West.

motorcycle in the foreground, a man painting a white outline of a rose as part of a mural on the side of Canada Convenience store on Queen West, a few people watching him paint

below: This weekend was the annual Riverdale ArtWalk at Jimmie Simpson Park and Community Center.

a man stands holding up a painting (bottom of painting is resting on the ground), more painting displayed on the wall behind him, at the outdoor Riverdale Artwalk art show and sale

below: Dancing to the drums of Venice and Kevin who are playing as past of an event to raise money to fight sickle cell disease.

a young woman dancers at the bottom of the stage steps at nathan phillips, two people are beating drums on the satge

below: Four singers – they’ve just finished performing on the stage at Yonge Dundas Square as part of the DesiFEST celebrations.

four female singers are smiling, they've just finished a song, performing at Yonge Dundas square as part of Desifest, all 4 are of South Asian descent

below: A sign of the times.

a blackboard sign on the sidewalk in front of Brioche restaurant that says we serve Covfefe. People walking on the sidewalk,

below: It wasn’t just the people who were dressed for summer.

two little white dogs on a leach, both have pink and white frilly dresses on.

below: Gardening season has begun!  The vacant lot beside Nick Sweetman’s mural has been turned into a Garden Centre.

garden plants for sale, outdoors, in front of a large mural, bees, by Nick, on Queen st east

a front yard with gardening supplies, and pots of plants on the front steps

below: With their backs to the windows … but it looks like they’re dressed for summer

two mannequins with their backs to two windows, both dressed in red clothes

people riding down the escalator at the Eaton Centre, a large screen is playing a slideshow of summer pictures as part of an advertising campaign.

a mother helps her young daughter reach down and touch the water in the fountain at Nathan Phillips square

elicser people under the train tracks

Posted: February 25, 2017 in graffiti and street art, locations, public art
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a long mural by elicser that leads from Monarch Park, through the railway underpass and to the community garden on the other side, pictures of people

If you walk south through Monarch Park this is the view that greets you as you approach the railway underpass.  Elicser has painted a large mural that extends from the park through to the Woodfield Community Rail Garden that is on the other side.  As you walk through the underpass this is what you see:

a green and white GO train passes over a tunnel that provides access between two neighbourhoods. The tunnel has been completely covered by a mural by elicser that shows people going about their everyday outdoor activities

part of a larger mural by elicser in Monarch Park - a cyclist is going fast as he goes downhill

part of a larger mural by elicser in Monarch Park - a large woman's head and many buildings

mural by elicser in the tunnel that is a railway underpass - people walking outside

mural by elicser in the tunnel that is a railway underpass - a girl is painting a large picture of a monarch butterfly on a wall

mural by elicser in the tunnel that is a railway underpass - a couple sits on a bench, a cabin is behind them

mural by elicser in the tunnel that is a railway underpass - a mother and father lead a group of noisy kids on a walk

mural by elicser in the tunnel that is a railway underpass - young people walking, one with earbuds on and one making hand signs

mural by elicser in the tunnel that is a railway underpass - an older man on a motorized scooter, he looks sad, frowning.

a mural by elicser on a railway underpass by the woodfield community rail garden, pictures of people gardening

a mural by elicser on a railway underpass by the woodfield community rail garden that covers all the concrete of the opening. a VIA train passes overhead as a father and daughter stop to watch

It’s February so the community garden is still resting for the winter.  A shed with all four sides painted by Monica on the Moon provides some colour in the meantime.

a small wood shed sits in a community garden. Two sides can be seen, both painted with a mural by MOnica on the Moon. One side is a bright yellow and orange turtle in blue water and the other is a gold and brown bird with its wings open (owl? hawk?) on a bright blue sky background

The path continues…. a slight curve and you’re on Woodfield Road and on your way again.

path through a community garden continues past a large house and then towards a street

Labour Day parade 2016

Posted: September 6, 2016 in events, people
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Labour Day parade 2016
Monday, September 5th,

a group of people walking in a Labout Day parade, wearing orange T-shirts and holding orange signs protesting for fifteen dollars per hour minimum wage

The parade started at Queen and University and moved westward to Dufferin Street.

looking east on Queen Street West towards the Labour Day parade. A large truck is in the middle of the road, and people waving flags are walking in front of it. Lots of people walking beside it and behind it. Stores on Queen Street to the sides, taller buildings in the background.

women walking in a Labour Day parade carrying placards in red background with white lettering that say, 1. Retirement dignity for everyone, 2. Pay equity now, 3. Good full-time jobs for all.

a group of people walking in a labour day parade, two banners, one for Hammerheads and one for Central Ontario building trades.

a group of women walking in a labour day parade. One has a red heart with the number 75 inthe middle of it painted on her cheek. She is also holding a circular sign that says Work It! End job discrimination. Unite here.

large sign covering the back of a van that says We Won't shut the f*** up, in a parade, with people walking on both of it, walking away from the camera

a group of people in grey t-shirts walk behind a black pick up truck in a parade, carrying a banner that says IATSE LOcal 873 union, Toronto Motion Picture Technicians.

Two kids sitting in the back of a pick up truck, with red and white unifor (union) flags. Two men in the cab of the truck

members of the actra union walking in a parade, a woman looking at the camera and holding a sign above her head, two boys walking beside her. One in sunglasses and with hands in his pockets.

members of the actra union walking in a parade, two women and a girl blowing bubbles

a young girl rests her arms and head on a metal railing as she rides on a float in a parade

men in light blue T-shirts and wearing baseball caps, pass by in a parade, one is holding a small union flag (amalgamated transit union) and one is giving a thumbs up

According to the ‘Toronto Star’ newspaper, there were 25,000 people walking this year.

steelworkers march in a labour day parade on Queen St. West with their yellow banner

a group of people from the Power Workers Union wear grey t-shirts and and hold flags while they walk in the parade including three smiling young women at the front of the group

two people are carrying a banner for the Labour Council of Metropolitan Toronto and York Region in a parade. others are walking beside and behind them

below: The parade ended at the Dufferin Gates of the Canadian National Exhibition.  Labour Day weekend is also when the CNE Air Show is on and as a result, many of the planes taking part in the show also flew over the parade.

people walk down a street, no cars, police directing traffic, airplanes in formation and with white trails fly over the street part of the CNE air show flying over part of the Labour Day parade

a man with a large beard, wearing a straw hat and an orange bandana around his neck, carries a sign that says $15/hour minimum wage now, in a parade. behind him is a banner protesting the cost of university education and demanding free university education

pipe band, bagpipes and drums, marches through the intersection of King and Dufferin in the annual Labour Day parade, people watching on the sidewalks, a TTC streetcar waiting for the parade to pass

two men sitting in the back of a pick up truck as well as a boy sitting on the tailgate, in a parade, wearing white t-shirts that say Proud to be Union

a woman in a pink top and a black wide brimmed hat leans down to talk to her son who is sitting in a stroller. He's pointing down the sidewalk. They are watching a parade go by.

a camera woman has her camera on the ground and she is kneeling behind it and trying to take a picture. She is bare footed. There is a police car parked behind her. She is on the street, photographing a parade

iatse 58, union members walk in a labour day parade with their banner that says Behind the Scenes since 1898

a male cyclist rides past men marching in a labour day parade all carrying white Liuna union flags

blog_bagpipe_shadows_street_parade

below: You know the parade is over when the street sweepers come around the corner.

a man walks his bike on a sidewalk, walking away from the camera, a large street sweeper is right beside him as it starts to clean up the street, the last part of a parade with firemen and fire trucks is in the distance

Festival of India parade

Posted: July 18, 2016 in events
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Many people walked and danced, clapped and chanted, as they paraded down Yonge Street on Saturday to start the annual Festival of India weekend.

The parade is similar to an annual procession (Ratha Yatra) that has occurred for centuries in the city of Puri, India as part of a Hindu festival associated with the god Jagannath.  Here in Toronto, as in Puri,  three chariots constructed to look like temples are pulled through the streets in a procession from one temple to another.    Each chariot carries a richly decorated representation of a god, first is  Jagannatha (another name for Krishna or God) and then his brother Baladeva and his sister Subhadra.   The chariots are pulled by people and the procession symbolizes the pulling of the Lord into our hearts.

In Puri, this Ratha-Yatra procession continues to attract over a million people every year.  In Toronto, the numbers aren’t quite that high!

a police car drives slowly in front of a parade as it makes its way down Yonge Street

people walk behind a yellow horizontal banner that reads Festival of India, Join us at Centre Island.

two women in sarees are pulling on a large rope in a parade. In the foreground, a man is pulling on another rope.

a group of young South Asian women walking in a parade. One of them has her face decorated with paint. In front of them is a group of young men in yellow tops and white bottoms, one has a drum.

South Asian, Indian, women, in long colourful sarees dancing as they move down Yonge Street in a parade

some older people dressed in white riding high in the chariot float in the Festival of India parade, others walking in front and pulling ropes to make the chariot move.

South Asian, Indian, women, in long colourful sarees dancing as they move down Yonge Street in a parade, lifting their skirts a little bit as they move

people walking in front of one of the chariots in the Festival of India parade in Toronto

a large blue wheel that is holding up a chariot float in the Festival of India parade, people walking beside and behind it as they walk down Yonge Street

lifting the red rope that separates the parade from the traffic, women dancing and clapping and walking as well as other people, pulling ropes to pull the chariot in the parade

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