Vancouver Canucks showcasing local Punjabi artists during Diwali celebration
Posted November 3, 2021 4:53 pm.
Last Updated November 3, 2021 4:57 pm.
A Punjabi musician from Surrey is getting ready to perform at Rogers Arena this Friday as the Vancouver Canucks celebrate Diwali.
For the fifth year, the team will be commemorating the festival predominantly celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists by highlighting cultural elements, artists, and activities throughout the evening.
Canucks to Celebrate Fifth Annual Diwali Night, presented by @Rogers, on Friday, November 5th.
DETAILS | https://t.co/JMSzAFDaVf pic.twitter.com/ZSwj8pCEyY
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 3, 2021
Performing during the intermissions will be, Intense, a Surrey-based producer who’s worked with some big-time names. And he says after years of working in the music industry, “it’s finally nice to get noticed.”
He hopes performing in front of so many people after such a long break due to the pandemic will help him reach a bigger audience who may not be familiar with Punjabi music.
“The goal with a lot of the music that I create nowadays is to actually connect with the people that are non-Desi. With how music has advanced like the Latin culture and stuff like that, I feel like Punjabi music is kind of the next up when it comes to becoming coming commercial and mainstream,” he said adding, “If you might not understand the Punjabi language, but I’m pretty sure you’re going to like the beats.”
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Intense says he is thankful the Vancouver team gave him the opportunity to actually show people that Punjabi musicians “make some pretty fire music.”
Friday’s game will be his first show back with a full audience since the start of the pandemic.
“I’m super excited. And I’m sure everybody else feels excited to finally get back into some sort of normality coming back into and filling up the arena.”
Other headlines include Vancity Bhangra dancers and drummers.
The Canucks will be also be wearing Diwali-inspired jerseys during the warm-up designed by South Asian artist, Jag Nagra.
Meet Jag Nagra, a local South Asian artist, who developed the custom artwork for this year's limited-edition Diwali warmup jerseys. pic.twitter.com/i1QhitdnOj
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 3, 2021
“After being worn at the game, these jerseys will be available for auction at vanbase.ca, with partial proceeds being donated to the Punjabi Market Regeneration Collective (PMRC),” a statement from the Canucks reads.
Meanwhile, the Canucks for Kids Fund will be donating $20,000 between Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen, a Sikh-faith-led volunteer organization supporting Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and Kids Play Foundation, a local non-profit organization that engages youth through sports.
