The scent of samosa filled the air, accompanied by the sound of Hindi and Punjabi music in the Las Positas quad during the Diwali celebration.
The event was a source of entertainment for students at LPC. It was organized by Movement API and Department Coordinator Rajeev Chopra. Movement API and Chopra worked together to bring Diwali to the students of all cultures again this year and to share its meaning and significance.
Around the world, Diwali is a festival celebrated by millions from various faiths. LPC’s South Asian students are among many who celebrate. With an undetermined beginning, the festival is estimated to be over 2,000 years old.
Diwali’s past is rooted in ancient Indian history. Celebrated by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, every version of Diwali’s start follows the victory of light over darkness.
The history of Diwali is a spiritual one, there are variations of the age old story but it generally goes that it’s celebrating the deity Rama’s return home after vanquishing the demon lord Ravana.
Diwali is derived from the word Deepavali which Chopra says means “A string of lights”. On the day of Diwali, its celebrants light clay lamps called Diya’s to symbolize light’s triumph over darkness.
Chopra said he believes in the spiritual meaning of Diwali.
“It’s called the festival of lights,” he said, “basically to remove darkness and get into light or basically creating an awareness for yourself, think last year about what you’ve been doing and how it’s going to affect your year going forwards… It’s just a very happy occasion, you see family and sit around, do some religious rituals. To me Diwali now means a day of optimism, looking forwards to better days in life.”
There were stations with staples of South Asian cuisine, temporary henna tattoos, chalk rangoli, which are patterns drawn on floors typically with powder and stencils and even small color-in lamps where event-goers could write their wishes and place them on a board.
Diwali was celebrated in the past at LPC with a significant contribution from Movement API including Julie Nguyen, a counselor and co-coordinator of Movement API.
“We thought that it was just so important to highlight that large population of students on our campus, to show them that we’re celebrating them and their holiday that they could see a little bit of themselves at school, a little bit of their culture, and what they see at home here. So we’re really happy to celebrate, it’s a little bigger and better this year because it’s our second time doing it,” Nguyen said.
Their contribution to the event is only one of many things Movement API does for LPC. They also provide opportunities for students to learn about a number of cultures, specifically those of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
The organizing of this event educated students as they enjoyed the festivities, as there were signs placed at each station to describe the cultural and spiritual significance.
This event only being lit into existence within the last two years reflects the ever rising South Asian population in the Bay Area. According to LPC’s spring census, 24% of students were Asian or Asian American.
Jessie Kaur, a student who was assisting with this event, said she was excited to see South Asian culture celebrated.
“I wish something like this was much more noticed,” Kaur said, “As years go by the population of Indians, of Asians has grown, so I feel like celebrating asian or like that type of community, like their religion in America, I think that’s what makes us a community, that’s what makes us grow together, learn what everything is, learn what everyone has alike, and everyone has their differences.”
Those sharing the same sentiment as Kaur have had their voices heard throughout the state in recent months. As of Oct. 6, the state legislature passed a bill declaring Diwali a state holiday. The bill is set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, being the third state in the nation to recognize Diwali as a holiday.
Now, California schools will have the ability to close for Diwali, giving students time to focus on celebrating with their family and friends.
The festival of Diwali at LPC is a sign for the lighting of a lamp and, much like the paper lamps of the celebrants, wishing for better things in the future.
In the spirit of looking forward to the future, LPC may continue to hold more celebrations.
“It’s part of our mission statement to be representing all the ethnicities we can and to create an inclusive environment,” Chopra said. “You have to have people have a say and celebrate the things they celebrate… It creates mutual respect for everyone and I think that the more we do that, the students’ journey would be more wholesome.”
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TOP PHOTO: Students and volunteers for the Diwali celebration in the Las Positas Campus quad on Oct. 27, as they served food typically eaten for Diwali celebrations and its culture to eventgoers. The foods included gulab jamun, rice, naan, samosas, butter chicken and paneer, all are well known in South Asian communities as staples of the cuisine. (Photo by Ian Kapsalis/The Express)
Musa Ashraf is the Arts & Entertainment Editor. Follow him on X, @MusaZash.