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– AURORA, Ill.
Aurora has become the first Midwest city to officially sponsor the celebration of Diwali and several thousand Indian Americans attended the Oct. 12, evening of free festivities that included music, dance and fireworks at Waubonsie Valley High School. Mayor Tom Weisner and several local politicians came.
A dance troupe showcased classical, modern and Bollywood-style dancing from across India. There was live classical singing, a henna artist, modern music by a DJ, and vendors selling snacks like bhelpuri, clothes and jewelry. Children competed for cash prizes by answering quizzes on Indian history and culture. The celebration was scheduled for the weekend because the festival will fall on a workday here.
“Our Indian American community is the fastest growing ethnic community in Aurora,” said Weisner in a prepared speech. “And so it is very fitting that the City of Lights host Diwali, India’s festival of lights, so that we, together, learn about and celebrate a vibrant culture making valuable contributions to our city.”
The second most populous town in Illinois, Aurora was already so named because it was among the first U.S. cities to adopt an all-electric street lighting system.
Indeed, the organizers and celebrants had to make do with battery operated “diyas” (lamps) inside the auditorium to comply with local fire protection laws. A fireworks display, sponsored by the City of Aurora, tops off the celebration of the festival of lights.
In recent years, Aurora has seen a large influx of immigrants, mostly I.T. professionals from the four Southern Indian states drawn by the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) temple and the Illinois Math and Science Academy, a school for high-achievers.
The cities of Aurora and Naperville have over the last year set up the Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board with ten members, among them manager Krishna Bansal, who played an important role in organizing the Oct. 12 event.
“A wonderful celebration for our entire community,” said one entry on “Indian Community in Naperville” Facebook site. “The first Diwali held in Aurora was a huge success on Sunday night.
Thousands turned out for the festival of lights that highlighted Indian culture and customs. Congratulations to Aurora’s Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board for hosting a very successful inaugural event!” said another entry.
“This year we put together the festivities in barely five weeks. Next year we plan to hold this in an outdoor park which has a capacity of 20,000 people,” said Bansal, who is the Republican District 84 candidate for the Illinois state legislature.
The event closed out with a community dance, a video of which was posted on the Facebook site of the Aurora city government. “How wonderful! I wish I could have been there. I wouldn’t mind getting down to some Indian music!” commented Ivette Ramirez. And Flor Barney asked “why you guys didn’t invite me?”
