NEW JERSEY (PIX11)—Although the five-day festival of Diwali officially begins on Friday, thousands turned out for an earlier festival in Edison, N.J., tonight that may be the largest in the country.
Dazzling and sparkling lights were everywhere in the trees, up on the stage, and in the sky, including a drone show of lights.
This drone show is a first for this third annual Edison Divali festival, which Mayor Sam Joshi says may be the largest Diwali festival in the country. With an estimated crowd of 20,000, it promises to be a spectacle.
“You look around, and they were all ethnicities here,” Sam Joshi, the mayor of Edison, told PIX11 News. “It’s wonderful to see the entire community come together at literally the largest Diwali festival in the country,” the mayor added.
Close to 60 vendors sold jewelry, accessories, clothes, and food.
But the highlight was the 15-minute drone show, which was in the works well before fire officials banned fireworks because of the drought.
“Right now, with extreme drought warnings, we’re urging residents not to use sparklers or any kind of fireworks in the 21 counties,” Andy Toth, Edison’s fire commissioner, told PIX11 News. “It’s very severe,” he added.
For so many at this festival, it’s a time to reconnect with your heritage and your family.
“Diwali is a Hindu festival but same as Christmas, we all celebrate it,” Anita Chadha, founder of the Saraswati Cultural Association, told PIX11 News. “We are living in America so it’s become a cultural festival,” she added.
Her granddaughter, Alisha Chadha, a 14-year-old ninth grader, added, “Diwali just means family, being with family, spending time with them.”
English (US) ·