Hindu Lifestyle

I was between 10 -11 years old when I first stayed awake for Mahashivaratri. Mom had brought blankets for us in case we felt tired. I had just started playing dholak and remember knees and legs getting sore sitting and playing dholak.


We left the mandir around 5:30 am and came home and I remember falling asleep in the car. Dad as usual went to work and I ended up going to school that morning and the feeling was surreal. I had just stayed up the entire night and none of my school friends had any idea.


This memory has stayed with me almost 30 years later.


For one night of the year, we spend it in devotion to Bhagwan Shiva ji
One night. We can all do it. I grew up watching my parents do it and today that tradition continues -- from India, to Trinidad and now to Canada.


Wherever you are in the world, whether you are in your home or attending Mandir just spend it in devotion. The future generations will thank you.

Har Har Mahadev!


Image Courtesy: @brogen.in
#mahashivratri #mahashivratri2026

2 hours ago | [YT] | 154

Hindu Lifestyle

Today I crossed 50,000 subscribers on YouTube. I'm kind of speechless.

What started through the motivation of some of my Baal Vikaas students in 2015 (who are now grown adults) -- it set me on a path I never thought I would have found myself on, making videos on Hinduism through the lens of someone born in Canada who's parents came from Trinidad.

50,000 is a number I can't quite wrap my head around but at some point, people around the world felt compelled to subscribe to hear what I have to say.

To my other half Sharmilla, thank you for always being the support and a sounding board when I pitched ideas that I had. When our 2 boys came into our lives I never thought I would find my way back to YouTube, but in 2023 I ventured back after 5 years away because of you.

During that time from 2018-2023 YouTube had changed immensely and I felt I was starting all over. But through the blessing of Bhagwan, I starting finding my way. Not every video is a hit, but its part of a larger story about Hinduism and maintaining a Hindu identity.

To the man behind the edits since 2024 Saayaas Kafle, this growth would not have been possible without you. When I came back to YouTube, I struggled with keeping up with recording and editing (having kids will do that). Saayaas came on his own offering his services and has been with me ever since. Thanks brother -- I appreciate all the work you put into seeing my vision come through.

Finally to my mom who always lets me know she watched my latest video and my late father who was my number one fan telling everyone he knew to watch my videos - you did your job in raising kids in Canada who went to Catholic school but never forgot their Hindu roots.

Here's to the next 50,000.

Jai Sri Raam!

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 1,061

Hindu Lifestyle

If you haven't subscribed to my YouTube channel, nows the chance. Let's see if I can break 50K subs before the end of the year 😁

2 months ago | [YT] | 772

Hindu Lifestyle

I've started a newsletter on Substack and I am hoping that many of you would join me there as well where I share longer form writing and reflecting on a variety of issue on Hinduism and diaspora stories.

Link: open.substack.com/pub/hindulifestyle

In my most recent post I go into what I think some of the reasons my video went viral (for my channel).

I'll share some of it here but please do subscribe to the newsletter.

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Having 2 young boys myself, one of the most important terms I learned was resilience: the capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties. It's not something you teach from a book but through experience and doing.

Kids are quite resilient but need the space to fall down and pick themselves up.

And in a way, Hindus are the same - constantly getting up again. And again..and again.

In the context of this video the intent was to give some practical tips to increase the confidence of Hindus worldwide - a way to stand up again and it showed me that practical advice resonates deeply.

2 months ago | [YT] | 790

Hindu Lifestyle

Join me this Saturday November 22 at 1pl (EST) for a discussion with CoHNA on Hindutva, Hinduphobia and Hinduism.

Link to register: bit.ly/stop-hinduphobia

2 months ago | [YT] | 950

Hindu Lifestyle

My last video has brought in some new subscribers and supporters so I just want to say - WELCOME!

Just a bit of background about myself since I saw some people were asking:

- I was born and raised in Canada
- My parents were born in Trinidad and immigrated to Canada in the 1970s
- I am alot older than I look on camera although I do appreciate people thinking I am a very young boy 😂 (I'm married and have 2 kids ages 4 and 7)
- My life story is not covered in one video but I speak about my Caribbean background, growing Hindu In Canada as well as issues facing Hindus today throughout my videos
- I focus on 3 core areas on my channel: Education, History and Advocacy centred around Sanatana Dharma and my unique background
- I am not a full time content creator but do my best to put out 2 videos a month (I have a 9-5 job, family duties and Mandir volunteer duties)
- You can also find me Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and most recently Substack

If you have any questions do let me know!

Jai Sri Raam!

3 months ago | [YT] | 615

Hindu Lifestyle

The last 24 hours on l social media has been interesting to see the various arguments regarding Conservatism, Interfaith Marriages and Assimilation, all ultimately questions of Hindu identity in the diaspora.

The Hindu Community in North America is still in the beginning phases of trying to understand who they are. While evangelism is part of Christian identity, when Hindus are directly confronted by it, it still is shocking.

I think what we are witnessing is the very beginning of a Hindu community outside of India adapting and trying to find its path in a new world.

I talk a lot about the Indo Caribbean Hindu experience. My parents came from Trinidad to Canada from an island that was separated from India for over 180 years. There was no WhatsApp or internet, yet Hinduism endured.

It would benefit the wider Hindu diaspora in North America to turn towards these populations to understand how it changed, how it adapted and how the practices were kept alive in a largely hostile environment (one of the reasons why many Caribbean Hindus have English names).

It certainly wasn't perfect. There was a lot that changed. There was a lot that we didn't know but somehow it stayed alive and it's still there. Those same families and their descendants came to Canada and were instrumental in creating a Hindu Community here in Toronto.

I stand on the strength of all of those individuals. I may not agree with all of them and I have my criticisms of them but the time now is to look forward and chart that path.

3 months ago | [YT] | 415

Hindu Lifestyle

Since 2012, I have spent most Sundays working with teenagers and young adults, talking about Sanatana Dharma. While these classes serve as educational tools for a young Hindu growing up, they also serve to provide life advice—it could be about school, jobs, or dating/relationships.

The one thing not discussed a lot was how to progress in our inner lives. In recent years, I have shifted this focus and started talking about it more openly, which has increased the conversations I have had about how to progress in our 'spiritual' lives.
That was the reason for making this video.

I knew from the outset that the reach of this kind of video might not be the same, but I felt it was needed. Funny enough, I received a lot of positive feedback on this video through personal messages—more so than for any other video I've made.

Hope you give it a watch and share with anyone within your circle who could benefit.

3 months ago | [YT] | 248

Hindu Lifestyle

Shubh Deepavali to each and everyone of you!

3 months ago | [YT] | 641