Tens of thousands of Ismailis gathered at central locations in their respective cities across Canada and around the world to celebrate the launch of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee year on Tuesday July 11. In many cities, including Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, turnout was much higher than expected.

“Regardless of the fact it was a work day, there were a lot of people,” said Arman Poonja, a volunteer who helped with crowd control at the International Centre in Toronto.

Poonja, 23, regularly serves as a tour guide at the Ismaili Centre Toronto. He said that although the large attendance numbers were a strain on resources, “The importance of the moment and the significance of the Jubilee brought everyone together despite the challenges.”

The day’s prayers and celebrations were organized around the ceremony of homage to Mawlana Hazar Imam in Aiglemont, simulcast to all Canadian cities. For most Jamati members, including Poonja, the video was the highlight of the day.

“It was a really emotional experience,” he said. “Even with all the people and how warm it was in the building, it seemed like everything kind of stopped at that moment.”

And while Poonja sees many groups come through the Ismaili Centre during his tours, he was amazed by the crowd at the International Centre. “Seeing everyone in our community, especially those with spouses from other faiths, it was a moment for me to realize how vast the community is and how everyone can come together.”

In Calgary, Yasmin Weljie, 65, who has devoted countless hours as a volunteer at many prior events, chose to enjoy the celebration with her friends and family. With the Calgary Stampede in full swing, the city’s Ismailis rose to the challenge of finding and converting a temporary venue and acquiring the resources to host the event.

A large warehouse was converted for the celebrations.

“In my opinion, it was an amazing experience inside the hall,” said Weljie. “The arrangements were really good, the audio was really good, the video was really good. The volunteers were really respectful.”

She too was overcome by emotion during the video: “It was indescribable. I’m tearing up just talking to you,” she said.

“I think just having the opportunity to participate in what was happening – although it wasn’t live, it felt like it was live, that it was happening as we were going along. Listening to Hazar Imam – all of those feelings for how much he does for us, what his role is in all of our lives, how he impacts our lives and what we do – it was a very touching experience.”

Toronto’s Farial Hamir, a safety and security volunteer, agreed.

“I really felt like I was there (in Aiglemont),” said the 33-year-old Hamir. “I got lost in the music and the beauty of the landscape, listening to what Hazar Imam was saying. I felt like a part of it.”

During the simulcast video, Council for Canada President Malik Talib, who was in Aiglemont representing Canada during the ceremony, spoke to the Canadian Jamat about the day’s significance and to let them know he was thinking of them.

In Montreal, where Stade Uniprix – a tennis venue – was converted into the Diamond Jubilee hall, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive according to Lizwan Mohan. He served as the convener for the Imamat Day celebration in Montreal.

Mohan, 43, explained that the Montreal Jamat is younger than that of the rest of Canada, so his volunteer team was mostly made up of individuals under the age of 30. He lauded their problem solving abilities and commitment.

“For me it was such an amazing experience to work with these dedicated, ambitious, young, talented individuals,” said Mohan.

Jamats across Canada celebrated after the video - many had live bands performing while crowds danced and played rasda - and the Montreal Jamat was treated to an especially multicultural performance featuring a collage of dances from different cultures including Afghan, Syrian and Garba presentations.

Cities with smaller Jamats also held gatherings. In Halifax, nearly 100 Jamati members turned up – more than twice the number that turns out for usual large prayer congregations.

“Everybody loved it,” said Sohail Ali, one of the volunteers who helped organize their celebration.

Ali, 33, described how Halifax’s Jamati members gathered in their prayer hall and watched the video of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s ceremony together. Although many of them would normally attend larger-scale events, they enjoyed the intimate, involved feeling they experienced.

Despite the smaller gathering, the Halifax Jamat stayed for three hours after the video, celebrating with sherbet, food and dancing.

With July 11 now past, Toronto’s Hamir can’t wait for more celebrations during the Diamond Jubilee year.

“I’m really excited to be a part of this,” said Hamir. “I think the positive experience I had is making me look even more forward to any events I’m going to be a part of.”