HCF Leads the Fight Against FIREWORKS BAN in Mississauga - Action Oriented Grassroot Advocacy

Mississauga (ON) – For the third time, Mississauga City attempted to push forward a fireworks ban, despite lacking credible supporting data and without addressing more pressing concerns facing the city. The timing of these repeated attempts often coinciding with Hindu festivals such as Navratri and Diwali, raises serious questions about whether cultural traditions are being unfairly targeted.

HCF at the Forefront:

The Hindu Canadian Foundation (HCF) has been at the forefront of opposing this motion, leading visible and action-oriented advocacy efforts. From mobilizing community members to presenting delegations, HCF has consistently defended the right of Hindu Canadians to celebrate their traditions with dignity.

Mayor Carolyn Parrish has repeatedly cited vague reasons, including comparisons to neighboring cities, as justification for the ban. However, HCF has highlighted that punishing an entire community for isolated incidents is unjust and unsupported by evidence.

HCF Constantly called out double standards taken by Carolyn, check out X for our efforts and calling out the truth: https://x.com/officialHinduCF/status/1973108338838700284?s=20

Community Mobilization

On October 1, 2025, HCF organized the Chalo Mississauga event, bringing more than 100 people to City Hall. HCF member Sai Gayatri, an environmental engineer, delivered a powerful delegation opposing the ban. Thanks to HCF’s advocacy, several councillors assured the community that they would not support such an autocratic measure. HCF also ran sustained campaigns, ensuring that voices were heard at City Hall and that the broader public was informed. Despite political maneuvering and last-minute procedural changes that denied most delegates the right to speak, HCF’s persistence ensured that the ban was withdrawn. Instead, Council opted for regulation rather than prohibition.

Thanks to the strong advocacy and delegation of HCF, many councilors assured HCF that they would not support this autocratic ban.

https://x.com/officialHinduCF/status/1974862392447131748?s=20

https://x.com/officialHinduCF/status/1973847582775652426?s=20

https://x.com/officialHinduCF/status/1973749916552896525?s=20

HCF once again took the initiative and launched another campaign to ensure that the voices of people in Mississauga City Hall were heard against the autocratic decision.

A large number of people turned up, and this time, some political maneuvering occurred, resulting in a backdoor deal between the mayor and an organization.

The mayor withdrew the BAN and decided not to ban fireworks in Mississauga but to regulate them instead. Councillor Dipika Damerla, who had been leading this fight, was not even consulted. All the delegation speakers who were prepared to present their case were denied the opportunity to speak, marking a dark day for democracy.

However, it was a significant victory for the Hindu community, though not without vigilance.

A Win for the Community, But Vigilance Needed: While the withdrawal of the ban was a major victory for the Hindu Canadians, the process revealed troubling gaps in democratic practice:

• 32 delegates registered, yet 31 were denied the right to speak.

• Only one speaker from one of the organizations was permitted to speak for 5 minutes, which was arranged through a backdoor deal.

Ultimately, the Council chose to adopt Option 2 (with modifications for extended hours), which implemented restrictions without imposing a complete ban. This decision offers temporary relief to the 99.97% of Mississauga residents who celebrate fireworks on Canada Day, Victoria Day, Lunar New Year, Diwali, and New Year's Eve.

HCF president Arunesh Giri criticized the unjustified ban during his interview with CTV News, as detailed below:

Looking Ahead:

HCF acknowledges the support of councillors such as Dipika Damerla, who advocated for extending fireworks hours to 6–10 PM, ensuring families had a fair window to celebrate. However, the Mayor has already hinted at revisiting the ban in the future.

HCF remains vigilant. We will continue to monitor developments, challenge misinformation, and advocate for the rights of Hindu Canadians to celebrate their traditions freely and respectfully. Victory, but not without vigilance. The Hindu Canadian Foundation will stand united with the community to ensure that culture, tradition, and freedom of celebration are never compromised.