Diwali celebrations at Edison Township, New Jersey, were an extraordinary spectacle of crowds, lights and fireworks, bringing thousands of Indians and Indian Americans to picturesque Lake Papaianni Park, for the free event Saturday, November 4, 2023. Edison, possible the most diverse township in the country, boasted its multicultural roots with a Diwali that could compete successfully with any held in India.
Among the highlights were star performers Jay Sean and Prudhvi Chandra, who along with other entertainers, including local dance troupes and singers, transformed the environment with the beats and melodies of Indian music and lighted diyas for some 9 hours.
As for the decorations, they were unsurpassed – 65,000 lights made the park glow ethereally, 6,000 diyas distributed to the public enhanced the beauty of the 22 acres of the parkland.
There were also at least 33 colorful stalls of vendors, crowded by visitors eager to buy Indian.
Many congratulated the Indian American Mayor of Edison, Sam Joshi, who was a highly visible presence at the massive gathering, addressing the crowd, and also mingling with visitors and taking selfies.
One of the hundreds of reactions on Facebook from various sources, gives an idea of how the Edison celebrations were received. “You gotta see it to believe it! #EdisonDiwali was a night to remember as Mayor Sam Joshi and the Edison Council put on an amazing event!” No surprise, it was the Edison Township Facebook page containing reels of the event. “The party is not slowing down,” it said.
