Festival of Lights: Tens of thousand celebrate Diwali at Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton

PLEASANTON, Calif. (KGO) — Saturday night’s fireworks over the Alameda County Fairgrounds were in celebration Diwali — the Festival of Lights.

“I love this celebration, because I have a lot of memories from India going to these kinds of events,” said Neha Agarwal, a Union City resident. “I have two kids. I love to bring them here so that they can learn.”

Agarwal and her family are among the tens of thousands who came to Pleasanton from across the Bay Area to take part in the festivities.

From the music to food to fashion, Sachin Syal said this Diwali celebration was a great way to learn more about the local South Asian community.

MORE: California makes Diwali an official statewide holiday

“As a kid growing up, I always knew about all the other traditions. There was Christmas and Halloween. And now that we have this, we can learn about other cultures,” Syal said.

According to Hindu tradition, Diwali commemorates the return of the Hindu god, Ram, from exile. It is a celebration of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance. Other religions in India also celebrate different versions of Diwali.

In attendance was California Attorney General Rob Bonta. He says Diwali’s message resonates in the current political climate.

“Good over evil, right over wrong, and knowledge over ignorance. Those are important right now. At a time when we are seeing from the federal government — a lot of challenges — attacks on our immigrant communities, on diversity, equity and inclusion,” Bonta said.

“When I was growing up, there were very few (Diwali) festivals. It was all individual families,” said Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan, who grew up in the East Bay and is of Indian descent.

MORE: What to know about 5-day festival of lights celebrated in India, the US and worldwide

Salwan said the growth of Diwali corresponds to growth of the South Asian diaspora.

“It legitimizes the South Asian community as a solid community in our area. They have much to contribute. They want to give back,” Salwan said.

And beginning next year, Diwali becomes an official state holiday.

“Indians are one of the majority populations now in California. So it gives you that recognition. So yeah, it’s important,” said Deepika Bajpi, who lives in Hayward.