Hundreds Gather for First Diwali Celebration at Downtown Cary Park

Hundreds of people filled Downtown Cary Park for a Diwali celebration, the first time the holiday has been marked at that location. The gathering brought together residents who have observed the festival all their lives and others experiencing it for the first time.

The event included music, dancing and the lighting of lights, reflecting the traditional Hindu theme of light triumphing over darkness.

Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht took part in the festivities and said the holiday has become a fixture of local life. "It's part of the Cary culture, and it's something I look forward to every year. I actually dance every year to celebrate Diwali," Weinbrecht said.

For Cary Councilmember Sarika Bansal, the first Indian American elected to the council, holding the celebration in the center of town carried special weight. "For me, celebrating Diwali in the heart of Cary means so much; something many of us grew up celebrating at home is now bringing neighbors together," Bansal said.

Cary and neighboring Morrisville are home to a large South Asian population, and several major temples in the area serve Wake County. Some attendees who grew up in India said the evening took them back to their childhood holidays.

"Diwali was one of the most important festivals all year round. It was a time when we got our new clothes to dress up," one attendee said. "Offering sweet, bursting crackers, greeting each other all of that is really beautiful and brings back so many wonderful memories."

Many families are now building new traditions with their children in North Carolina. Another attendee acknowledged what is left behind while expressing gratitude for what they have found. "Of course we miss India, and in India the celebrations are much grander, but we live here for a reason, and that's what we love about living here is a diverse community, and thanks to America for offering that to us," the attendee said.

The mayor and the Cary Town Council also issued a proclamation celebrating Diwali. Organizers said they hope holding the event at Downtown Cary Park will become an annual tradition.