On Oct. 27, families in Pleasanton gathered to celebrate Diwali in an annual event hosted by the City of Pleasanton. Hosted at the Veteran’s Memorial Building, the event lasted from 1-3 p.m. Before this event, the Alameda County Fairgrounds also hosted a Diwali celebration.
Throughout the event and as a custom, the event featured storytime and traditional Indian dance performances. In addition, pop-up tables offered henna, face painting, and paper lantern making.
“I practice Bharatanatyam dance. I know students performed this at the event and I think they represented the dance form well. Their uniforms were really nice and traditional. The event was a nice way for people to experience different forms of the culture from all parts of India,” said volunteer Nidhi Kota (‘27).
Alongside Bharatanatyam, the event featured Indian classical Kathak and Bollywood dance. Meanwhile, students from different dance schools across the city represented their culture and religion through costumes, actions, and expressions.
“Something new for me was that each of the dances told a story. Much like a saga or a fairy tale. I could tell that those in the audience when they were clapping. They had a story they understood because it looked like some of the dancers either got wounded or showed signs of alarm when depicting a tense situation,” said event attendee Cheree Heathershaw.
The City of Pleasanton successfully brought a tight-knit community of Pleasanton residents together to enjoy crafts. Activities highlighted and educated about Diwali’s cultural significance. In doing so, the event fostered engagement and support for each other.
“It was really fun to see the engagement of those who were attending the event. I could see moms and dads. They were clapping and all that. The glee and happiness that people had was just amazing,” said Heathershaw.
“It was a good gesture for those officials to come and speak and I felt more represented and included. Overall, it was a good way to promote culture [like] South Asian culture and make us feel that we are part of this community,” said event attendee Nitin Gupta.
