Diwali 2024: Thousands Show Up to Celebrate Diwali Festival of Lights in Fremont

FREMONT, Calif. (KGO) — Diwali is the festival of lights celebrated by South Asians worldwide.

This year the holiday event fell on November 1 and thousands of people in Fremont showed up to celebrate at Gurdwara Sahib on Friday evening.

Diwali is known as the Hindu festival of lights, but other religious communities such as Sikhs also celebrate the holiday in early autumn.

Sunny Singh of Hayward came with his wife and daughter to celebrate at the temple.

“It is the festival of enlightenment, family gatherings and helping others,” Singh said. “It’s more like a Thanksgiving, more like a Christmas.”

Everyone came out dressed in their festive best.

“People come here dressed up and want to pay their respects,” said Jasdev Singh, a volunteer.

Diwali is a five-day celebration of good over evil. Many Hindus, Jains and Sikhs around the world are celebrating, reports Jaysha Patel.

It was an opportunity to share good wishes and light small clay lamps called diyas.

The lamps often illuminate houses and streets for Diwali.

“If you want to welcome someone, our rule is that you light your house with lightning,” Singh said.

Student Avneet Kaur lit several lamps to continue the tradition.

“I actually came home to celebrate with my family,” Kaur said.

On this Friday evening, Kaur came with her mother and one of her friends to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

“For me that is the most important thing: being able to continue and keep this tradition alive,” says Kaur.

After lighting the diyas, Kaur joined others – they entered the temple to pray.

The community celebration then continued, with neighbors enjoying sweets and other treats.

The festival of Diwali is an opportunity to celebrate light over darkness and happiness over sadness.

“It’s a great opportunity to wish gratitude and prosperity and health to all family members,” said Vikram Virk of Fremont.

“It is important for everyone. If you look around here, everyone here is celebrating and lighting diyas,” said Inder Saini, a student.

It is a family-friendly celebration and an ongoing celebration, rooted in joy, love and community.