In this episode, the Secret Life of Canada looks at some of the early history of South Asian people in B.C including the stories of those first to arrive, the long fight for voting rights and the story of the Komagata Maru.
From fashion to food: Find tons of treasures at Vancouver s Punjabi Market dailyhive.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailyhive.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Posted: Jul 15, 2021 1:43 PM PT | Last Updated: July 15
Punjabi Market celebrated its 51st anniversary in 2021. (Kiran Singh)
If you had visited the three-block strip of Vancouver s Main Street between East 48th and East 51st avenues a couple of decades ago, your senses would have been overwhelmed with the aroma of sandalwood, the bright colours of Punjabi suits hanging from storefronts, the sounds of Indian and Pakistani music blasting on radios, and sidewalks full of people.
But once the South Asian community started moving south of the Fraser River, many businesses followed, diluting the vibrancy of Vancouver s Punjabi Market.
Today only a handful South Asian stores remain but efforts to rejuvenate this once bustling business hub are underway.