Our Communities
Diwali Prelude: Chants, Caring and Community
Every evening in New York is different. This one was a harbinger of the Diwali to come with joy in community. The waiting audience saw flickering candles and Indian musical instruments on the floor. This evening at Asia Society was organized by Anu Sehgal of The Culture Tree, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and centered around community, beautiful chants by Grammy winner Chandrika Tandon, and an unopened lotus.
The Honorable Shekar Krishnan, New York City Council member for District 25, gave the keynote speech. He is the first Indian American to ever be elected to the New York City Council, and it was wonderful to see how far the community has come, as the midterm elections draw closer. Some excerpts from his talk: “As many of you already know, our communities of Jackson Heights and Elmhurst, Queens are the most diverse communities in the world. I represent a neighborhood where over 167 languages are spoken. We represent the largest New York City taxi driver population in all of New York City, a community of workers and drivers that I, along with our Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have worked together with for many years to make sure that they were not bearing the crushing predatory lending debt that they bore for so long, and to make sure that they are getting the protection that they deserve as workers
We are also a community of street vendors, of small business owners. We know on 74th Street, Sam and Raj was there for a very long time too, and so many others. It’s all so hard to believe that 74th Street in Jackson Heights, at one point in time, where all of us would go in our families has now so many such streets across the country, across the city, like of course across the world too.
“But I’m proud to represent such a diverse district. Jackson Heights and Elmhurst are where we all go, where so many go to chase the American dream and to achieve it. And it is also where so many go, as we know, to eat the best food in our city too. As biased as I am, I know that’s true. It is a joy and pleasure to represent such a diverse and vibrant community.
I often think of the small ways that my community has made such an impact on me too. Even during our first campaign, to be out there and see our Patel brothers on 74th Street had my campaign posters the first time ever- in four different languages along the wall: Hindi, Bangla, Nepali, English, and Spanish. So, five actually, and of course, representing so many young children of our South Asian communities. I may be the first in the city council, but I sure hope that I am not the last, and to fight for them and their future, children who look like us in this room, who look like me, who are now learning about our cultures and our languages in their schools. That gives me so much hope and inspiration to keep fighting for our communities in Jackson Heights and Elmhurst and across New York City.”
His love shout-out to the community was followed by Chandrika Tandon’s love chant to the community. It was the major highlight of the evening, for this was no ordinary concert.
This was a concert in which Chandrika the diva, through the magic of her voice and her persuasion powers, made the audience chant along with her. A very special occasion. She evoked the many names of Hindu gods and engaged all the participants in joining their voices to her chants. Each guest was presented with an unopened lotus, a symbol of their unseen potential.
The young musicians performed beautifully, and in fact, there can be no stronger community than the one that sings together, that chants together. The evening set the stage for the Diwali to come, and in the end, there was festive mithai from Surbhi Sahni of Tagmo which looked like glittering gems and tasted like pure happiness. One which intrigued everyone was a simple mithai, made of cashew nuts. Cut the anonymous little green ball and voila! It turned into a slice of watermelon, complete with pink flesh and black seeds – created totally of nuts!
By end of the evening, a beautiful gossamer web of caring and community had been established through the chants, and people went home joyful, with a peace they did not possess when they came. The next morning, the lotuses, put in water, had opened and bloomed. A beautiful reminder that Diwali, the festival of lights, and the victory of light over darkness was around the corner.
One is reminded of Sekhar Krishnan’s parting remarks on how we can solidify these emotions and take action during dark times: “This is how we make sure that the stories of our communities, of our cultures, are told generation after generation, As families, friends, and neighbors unite, Diwali has always been a time for me when I think about what I am thankful for in our community, and as a father of two young children too, who I now celebrate the traditions with and pass on to them as well.
It’s a moment for me to remember our families, our culture, and our own struggles and hardships too, but let’s zoom out even further. We know that we live in dark times right now, with the federal government attacking our health care, increasing the cost of living, and cutting access to food assistance, and sending ICE into our communities to tear apart families. I say all this not to bring down the mood, but to center on how important today is, and how important it is to have everyone in this room.
As we spend time cherishing our families, hugging our friends, and joining together in community, we are standing up in moments like this and shining a light over the darkness that we may see surrounding us. Now, when we celebrate Diwali and celebrate our culture, which is now a public school holiday in New York City too, we spread knowledge in the face of ignorance.
When we look out for our neighbors, for one another, standing up to ICE, when we feed our community and members and invest in our children’s education, we choose compassion over hatred. And when the moments get difficult, I know for me they do, it can seem like the road ahead is so dark.
Moments like today encourage us, inspire us to turn the gaze inwards as well, to look at that flame that shines brightly, and push us forward. It is my hope, it is my prayer, that when things can seem so difficult, we can turn the gaze inwards, reach deep down within, and remember events and moments like today that can give us the energy, strength, and inspiration to move forward.”
(Chandrika Tandon’s remarks will feature in a Diwali piece on Lassi with Lavina)
https://council.nyc.gov/shekar-krishnan/
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