Diwali 2024: Thousands of People Come to Celebrate Diwali Festival of Lights in Fremont

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

This year the holiday event fell on the first of November, and thousands of people in Fremont gathered Friday evening to celebrate at the Gurdwara Sahib.

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

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

“It’s a festival of lighting, family gathering and helping others,” Singh said. “It’s more like Thanksgiving, more like Christmas.”

Everyone came out dressed in their festive attire.

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

Diwali 2024: What you need to know about the five-day festival of lights celebrated in India, the US and around the world

It was a chance to share good wishes and light small clay lamps called diyas.

Lamps often illuminate houses and streets during Diwali.

“When you want to greet someone, our rule is you have to light up your house with lightning,” Singh said.

College student Avneet Kaur lit several lamps to continue the tradition.

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

This Friday night, Kaur came with her mother and one of her friends to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

“That’s the most important thing to me, to be able to follow that tradition and keep it going,” Kaur said.

Having lit the diyas, Kaur joined the others – they entered the temple to pray.

The community celebration then continued as neighbors enjoyed sweets and other delicacies.

Celebrating Diwali is a chance to celebrate light over darkness and happiness over sadness.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to say thank you and wish prosperity and health to all family members,” said Vikram Virk of Fremont.

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

It is a family holiday based on joy, love and community.