Rays of Light: a glimmer amidst Ontario’s harsh winter storm

As Southern Ontario attempted to recover from one of the worst ice storms to hit the area in years, Toronto welcomed Rays of Light: Glimpses into the Ismaili Imamat to the International Centre. The warmth, fervour, and togetherness generated by Rays of Light were a welcome contrast to the nip and pall of the storm outside.

A large portion of the Ontario Jamat visited the exhibit over the winter holidays and into the New Year. The exhibit focused on the mandate of the Ismaili Imamat to improve the quality of life of people around the world and provided a brief history of the fifty years of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s role as Imam.

Visitors were inspired and humbled by the experience. Most striking were the exhibit’s displays of the breadth of the Imamat's endeavours and the work’s momentous impact. One Jamati member described the exhibit as “a life altering experience.”

Each visitor was touched differently by Rays of Light. Many relived memories that some of the extraordinary photographs revived. Some saw the experience as an opportunity to increase their knowledge of the work of the Imamat institutions and to engage in dialogue regarding the subject. The Enlightenment Dome marked the culmination of this moving experience for many visitors who sat there in contemplation with tears in their eyes.

It was fitting that Rays of Light coincided with the New Year, as it marked the beginning of what, Inshallah, will be a momentous year by the Imamat institutions in Canada, as the new Ismaili Centre Toronto, the Aga Khan Museum, and their Park on Wynford Drive progress towards completion. Indeed, Rays of Light has been a bridge between the past and the future, recounting the rich history of the Imamat globally and offering a bright beacon of hope for many generations to come.