Thousands of people turned up at Toronto's Ricoh Coliseum on Wednesday for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appearance, a welcome normally reserved for rock stars.

More than 8,000 people were expected to attend the event, where Modi is speaking at the arena as part of a three-day Canadian visit that begins in Ottawa. He arrived in Toronto’s Pearson International Airport shortly after 3:15 p.m. with Prime Minister Stephen Harper at his side.

Harper and Modi were expected to discuss trade, energy, security, culture and the environment in the capital ahead of the 64-year-old Indian PM’s Toronto appearance.

Modi’s speech Wednesday night was the central event for many Indo-Canadians, with thousands of shouting fans and protesters in attendance.

“It will bring the India and Canada relationship to the next level,” India-based journalist Akash Soni told CTV Toronto outside of the Exhibition Place venue. “From here, I think we can see a major change and a positive change in India-Canada relationship.”

The phenomenon nicknamed "Modi-mania" has been witnessed most recently in New York in September and Sydney in November, when the leader was met with screaming, chanting crowds.

Organizers of the Toronto event said they consulted with staff of New York's Madison Square Garden when the appearance was first planned.

Organizers received 15,000 requests for seats in the venue which holds 7,779. They also received 1,400 requests to volunteer at the event.

As one of India's most divisive politicians, Modi is expected draw a mix of fans and protesters to Canada's biggest city.

He was denied a visa to Canada during a 12-year period when he was suspected to be a human rights abuser. In 2002, when Modi was the chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat, more than 1,000 people died in inter-communal riots. The majority of the people who died were Muslims.

Modi has denied his role in the riots, and was cleared in an investigation overseen by India's Supreme Court in 2012.

It is not clear whether Modi will address the riots in his speech, but he has said in the past that he hopes to help bring an end to religious intolerance in India.

Still, at least one group plans to attend the Wednesday night event in protest of the visit. An organization called Sikhs for Justice asked members to "join us in front of the Ricoh Coliseum and expose this man and his government to the world."

The group has filed a complaint with the Attorney General of Canada requesting criminal proceedings against Modi for the 2002 riots.

Where to see Modi

  • Speaking event at Ricoh Coliseum, located at 45 Manitoba Dr., at 7 p.m. on Wednesday
  • Visit to Kanishka memorial site in Humber Bay Park, 2225 Lake Shore Blvd., on Thursday morning
  • Departure at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Thursday afternoon
  • Arrival at Vancouver International Airport Thursday afternoon
  • Visit to Gurdwara Khalsa Diwan in Vancouver, 8000 Ross St., at 2 p.m. on Thursday
  • Visit to Shri Laxmi Narayan Temple in Surrey, B.C., 8321 140 St., at 5 p.m. on Thursday
  • State dinner with Harper at Pinnacle Vancouver Harbourfront Hotel, 1133 W. Hastings St., Thursday evening

With a report from CTV Toronto's John Musselman