New Delhi: A vibrant celebration of Diwali took place in the heart of New York City on Saturday, as members of the Indian community and local citizens gathered in Times Square to mark the festival of lights. The iconic Midtown Manhattan location was transformed into a lively showcase of culture and unity.
The event featured notable attendees, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, New York State assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, and Consul General Binaya Pradhan, among others. Mayor Adams expressed his pride in joining the Indian community for the festivities, tweeting, “What better place to celebrate the festival of lights than in the Crossroads of the World? Proud to be with our Hindu brothers and sisters today for the annual Diwali at Times Square celebration as we push away the darkness and welcome in light all across our city.”
What better place to celebrate the festival of lights than in the Crossroads of the World?
Proud to be with our Hindu brothers and sisters today for the annual Diwali at Times Square celebration as we push away the darkness and welcome in light all across our city. pic.twitter.com/VauEgY14IO
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) October 20, 2024
Annual tradition at Times Square
The Diwali celebrations in Times Square have become an annual tradition, with this year’s festival set to officially occur on November 1. Celebrations were also held in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, where Deputy Consul General of India Varun Jeph participated in festivities organised by the Khalsa Asian American Association. Upper Darby Mayor Ed Brown and State Senator Tim Kearney also joined the celebrations.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced last November that Diwali would be recognised as a school holiday for New York City public schools. “New York City is rich in different religions and cultures, and we’re taking an important step to recognise and celebrate this diversity in the school calendar,” she stated at the time.
Celebration has grown in prominence
The Times Square event featured performances from various cultural groups, celebrating the rich traditions of Diwali. Since its inception in 2013, the celebration has grown in prominence, uniting diverse communities around the festival’s core values of light, hope, and togetherness.
Diwali, celebrated by approximately 44 lakh people of Indian origin in the US, is the third largest Asian ethnic group in the country, with significant populations in metropolitan areas such as New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. The Indian Consulate in Pennsylvania also organised a separate event to commemorate the festival.
