Spreading his promotion of happiness and positivity, advocate Gurdeep Pandher stopped by Sudbury’s Bell Park on Sunday evening as part of a cross-country tour.
While there, he led a group of approximately 30 people in Bhangra, the traditional dance of Punjab.
“Happiness is here in your heart,” he told his group of local followers early on in his 45-minute lesson, putting his hand on his heart. “You just need to find it.”
It’s this simple message that led to his strong social media following during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people were looking for happiness in the midst of isolating lockdowns.
Sudbury’s Chantal Desbiens was one of these followers, and began following him even before the COVID-related hardships hit Canada.
“He brings out so much positivity and fun,” she told Sudbury.com following Pandher’s lesson. “It was incredible to see the people who came out to see him.”
Although she said things can be tough, a smile, dance and positive outlook go a long way.
“When we are hungry, we need food. When we are thirsty, we need water,” Pandher told Sudbury.com following the lesson. “When there’s negativity or sadness, we need joy, positivity.”
Although Pandher gained popularity on social media, he said it’s not necessarily the best place to get to know people, or receive the positivity many of us crave.
“On social media, you don’t know anything about anyone,” he said., adding that positive people tend to not be as loud on social media as the more divisive voices.
“When you’re in real life, you’re able to see someone 360, you’re able to see into their eyes, their emotions.”
This, he said, is one of the key things he has learned on his cross-country travels.
Pandher, a resident of Yukon, began his journey last year, when he started out on the East Coast. He continued into Ontario until temperatures dropped below freezing, and then headed back home in the van which also serves as his home during his travels.
He picked up where he left off this summer, starting out in southern Ontario prior to reaching the Sudbury area. From here, he’s heading west.
For more information on Pandheer, visit his website, gurdeep.ca.
The following is one of Pandher’s videos featuring his dancing:
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
