Indian Americans living in Brentwood — along with community members from across the Bay Area — recently gathered to celebrate the culturally and religious holiday of Diwali.
The event in Brentwood, organized by the United Indian Association (UIA), featured music, performances, food, various vendors and more on Oct. 26 at Heritage High School. It was a lively, entertaining event that also offered an immersion into the city’s Indian culture.
Diwali, also known as the “Festival of Lights,” is a significant celebration in the Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism religions. It represents the triumph of positivity over evil and is primarily celebrated by the Indian diaspora within India and other countries. About 1 billion people around the globe celebrate Diwali, reports the Associated Press.
The day is usually marked with festivities, dancing and prayers, as well as ornate decorations and most notably, diyas or oil lamps. It is the largest event of the year for the Indian community and encourages unity, especially in smaller cities like Brentwood.
“It’s a really good way to be a part of the community,” said Mohana Nukala, an 11th grader at Heritage High School who performed at last year’s event and attended this year. “I loved getting to see everyone’s dances,”
UIA board member and event founder Manish Jain, said unity was his motivation for creating the event.
“One of our main goals is to bring Indians and Americans together,” Jain said. “We have been celebrating Diwali in isolation for so long, but it’s such a festival of joy and light that we shouldn’t be keeping boundaries. We should share all of this with all the people of the world. That’s the whole goal of Diwali.”
Jain, along with Prashant Sharma, Ashish Marwah and the UIA team, have organized the annual event since 2019, excluding 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an effort to increase diversity, the city of Brentwood has financially supported this event, along with other culturally significant celebrations representing different cultures.
Vinoy Mereddy, who regularly attends the event, enjoyed Brentwood Vice Mayor Suzanna Meyer’s participation in the festival, presenting organizers with a proclamation on behalf of the city.
“I think the Indian community is very, very well received in Brentwood,” Mereddy said. “[Meyer] was very instrumental in proclaiming that all the residents should celebrate it.”
When asked about the cultural inclusivity of Brentwood as a whole, Jain said the community relationship between the city and its residents “definitely goes both ways.”
“The city has been sponsoring these events and helping us out, and I think it’s time for the Indian community to also come forward and start contributing to [Brentwood],” Jain said. “It’s kind of a partnership.”
Brentwood City Council members also have attended the event in order to learn about Diwali and celebrate alongside the Indian community.
“I request all the people of Brentwood to definitely come forward, learn about Indian culture and learn about what Diwali is all about.” Jain said.
Ishita Khanna is a 10th grader at Heritage High School in Brentwood.
