CELEBRATION: Diwali Dhamaka: Festival of Lights in the U.S. | SILICONEER

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CELEBRATION:
Diwali Dhamaka: Festival of Lights in the U.S.

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus all over the world with much enthusiasm. Here are some glimpses of the celebrations in U.S. The Sunnyvale Hindu Temple celebrated Diwali with the traditional puja, a Diwali Mela, Oct. 25-27, that had a variety of events — a fair, music concerts, Antakshari, cultural performances, delicious food, and a lot more. The Fremont Temple celebrated it in traditional style with puja and lighting of diyas. The White House also celebrated Diwali by lighting the traditional diya. There were many other celebrations all over the San Francisco Bay Area. A Siliconeer photo essay.

Priests perform special Diwali Puja at the Sunnyvale Hindu Temple. [Photo: Ashok K. Gupta | Siliconeer]

Raj Bhanot (c) of Sunnyvale Temple starts the Shobha Yatra. [Photo: Sunnyvale Hindu Temple]

Kids perform Bhangra at the Shobha Yatra at Sunnyvale Temple. [Photo: Sunnyvale Hindu Temple]

San Francisco's Consul General of India N. Parthasarathi hands certificates to performers. [Photo: Sunnyvale Hindu Temple]

Rohit (Ro) Khanna speaks to the community congratulating the Sunnyvale Temple on its Diwali celebrations. [Photo: Amar D. Gupta | Siliconeer]

(Above): Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2012 champ Jasraj Joshi (top) and Manoj Pandya (middle) of the Lambada Band rocked the stage with Sufi and newer hits. (Bottom): Lambada Live in Sunnyvale with Reshma Pandya (r).

A kid receiving his prize from the raffle draw. Seen in photo are Raj Bhanot (c) and Dr. Romesh Japra (l) at the Sunnyvale Temple Diwali celebrations. [Photo: Amar D. Gupta | Siliconeer]

(Above): Revelers enjoying at the ‘mela’ at Sunnyvale Hindu Temple, Oct. 26. [Photo: Amar D. Gupta | Siliconeer]

(Above): Rajdeep Chatterjee (top) and Jonita Gandhi (middle) set the stage on fire, just as the Lambada band had done the previous night, the audience loving every moment of the show, joined dancing to their electrifying performance at the Sunnyvale Temple, Oct. 26. [Photo: Amar D. Gupta | Siliconeer]

A view of the elaborate diya decoration to mark Diwali at the Fremont Hindu Temple. [Photo: Amar D. Gupta | Siliconeer]

First lady Michelle Obama, priest Janaki Ram Marthi from the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple and temple chair Mythili Lee Bachu prepare the “diya” or lamp, to be lit. The lamp is lit in honor of Diwali, to celebrate the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. [Photo: Jessica Wray | SHFWire]

THE WHITE HOUSE CELEBRATES: Statement by President Obama to Mark Diwali

For the Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists celebrating Diwali this weekend, the Festival of Lights reaffirms the things in life that matter most. Dancing, celebration, and good food remind us that life’s greatest joys are the simple pleasures that come from spending time with people we love. Contemplation and prayer remind us that that people of all faiths have an obligation to perform seva, or service to others. And the flame of the diya, or lamp, reminds us that light will ultimately triumph over darkness. Here in the United States, Diwali also reminds us that our nation is home to many faiths and traditions, and that our diversity makes us stronger, which I why I’m proud that this year Democrats and Republicans in Congress joined together for the first-ever celebration of Diwali on Capitol Hill. Over the last five years, Michelle and I have been honored to have the chance to observe this ancient holiday, both at the White House and in India, and we wish all those celebrating this weekend a Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak.