Cupertino — Scents of decadent food stall delights; enchanting tunes and riveting musical acts; beaming smiles amongst cheerful crowds, and flashes of colours from the elegant sarees, dhotis and other garments adorning so many of the hundreds of attendees who had flocked from far and wide to immerse themselves in the cultural melting pot at Cupertino’s Memorial Park.
The 19th Annual Bay Area Diwali – Festival of Lights event held at Memorial Park, in Cupertino Oct. 8, provided a glimpse into the cultures and traditions celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and others the world over, including in the Bay Area – which is home to well over 300,000 Indian-Americans, marking the second largest Indian-American population in the United States.
Music drifted from the speakers set out on the festival’s center stage as singers and dancers dazzled the crowd. Around them, dozens of tents and stalls set up to cater to the masses attracted to enjoy the event were bustling with activity – with over 50 different vendors displaying everything from handcrafted cultural garments, jewelry, food and drinks to local businesses looking for exposure to new communities.
One such vendor was Saia Candles. Based in San Francisco, the online-only business specializing in organic, handmade, fragranced products such as candles and room sprays. Always searching for opportunities for market stalls to support her growing trade, which otherwise operates through custom online orders through her website, the business’s namesake was grateful for the opportunity for exposure and to share her creations with those celebrating Diwali 2022.
Meanwhile, the brains behind much of the day’s events could be found, colorfully dressed and bejewelled for the occasion, helping man the special exhibition set up inside at The Cupertino Historical Society & Museum. Dr. Jennifer Furlong, the museum’s director, was passionate when speaking about how this year’s event came together with the inclusion of the museum’s temporary exhibit showcasing aspects of Indian culture: from spiritual beliefs, sacred texts, and festivals and traditions to an array of sustainably designed garments from local boutiques like Fyoli Fyoli and Sarini’s Creations.
“It was great to be able to help preserve the art forms of these handcrafting techniques, supporting the women who make them – and it is all made sustainably,” Furlong said, pointing out the fine details of the garments on display. She said she was thrilled to support and promote local fashion and cultures of the Indo-American and Hindu-American communities.
Non-profit social, cultural, and educational organization Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) connected with Furlong and the museum through Cupertino Mayor Darcy Paul to provide the educational boards decorating the special ‘Darshana: A Glimpse into Hindu Civilization’ exhibit at the museum located at 10185 N. Stelling Road.
“It has been great to see so many embracing their community identity,” Furlong added, speaking both of the turnout for Saturday’s Diwali festival celebrations as well as the opening night of the special exhibit that was held Oct. 7.
Furlong, who said there was an attendance of around 200 people for the opening night, explained that she “had to keep adding spots” due to the substantial interest in the weekend’s events, especially after the difficult few years of COVID-19 pandemic-enforced restrictions on public gatherings.
Just as there were parents passing on traditions and sharing the celebrations with their children, there were many other young people from the Cupertino community and further afield that were drawn to explore the Diwali festival this year.
Ritvik, a high school student, made the 30-minute trip from Fremont specially for the day’s festivities with two schoolmates.
“I think my favourite parts of Diwali are Garba and Dandiya [two forms of cultural dance]” the young California resident said. Ritvik added that it was his and his friends’ first time attending the organized event, and that he had been looking forward to it due to not being able to celebrate Diwali on the same scale since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
