Double Dhamaka at AIA Diwali Dussehra event

AIA celebrate Diwali and Dussehra in California / Images : AIA

The Association of Indo-Americans (AIA) and Bolly 92.3 hosted their annual flagship event, "Dussehra and Diwali Dhamaka" - (DDD) last month at the Alameda County Fairground in Pleasanton, California. The event has gained a reputation for being one of the largest Diwali festivals in Northern California and was supported by over 45 Indian organizations in Bay Area this year.

Over 20,000 people attended the day-long event to witness the most popular activities, such as Ravan Dahan, Fireworks, Disco Dandia, etc. Diwali was celebrated with a 9-minute-long fireworks display sponsored by Sanjiv Gupta, CPA, while Dussehra was commemorated by burning a 30-foot Ravan Effigy sponsored by Dr Prakash Advani.

Dignitaries at the event

Dignitaries and local elected officials such as Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert (co-host) , Indian Consul General Dr. Srikar Reddy, State Senator Dave Cortese, Assembly Members Liz Ortega and Alex Lee, Alameda County Supervisors Elisa Marquez and Lena Tam, Vice Mayors Michael McCorriston and Jack Balch, and Councilmembers Raj Salwan, Sridhar Verose, Jean Josey, Marisol Rubio, and Sherry Hu graced the event and conveyed Diwali greetings to the gathering.

Fireworks display

Following a "Maha Mangal Arthi," devotees pulled Goddess Lakshmi's chariot through the streets in a procession. Another highlight of the evening was Disco Dandia, which continued until the very end of the event. People of all ages participated in the dance as live music was provided by singers from AIA, the Bay Area Telugu Association (BATA), and East Bay Karaoke (EBK).

The venue was packed with over a hundred booths selling everything from clothing and jewelry to home furnishings and real estate. Rangoli and diya-making contests, carrom and chess tournaments, and carnival games all drew large crowds. This year, one of the more recent additions, "Thambola," attracted more than a thousand people. Attendees also feasted on cuisine from various local eateries at the festival-like setting.