A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us on Wednesday, November 6, for an unforgettable Diwali celebration! With the room filled to capacity, we were thrilled to welcome 120 President's Office employees, all coming together to honor the Festival of Lights.

Audience members learning about the customs of Diwali.
Dee Cogliandro, Roger Rice, Damien Esposito, Vanitha Reddy and Maria Dahod.
Ashley Hunter, Akshit Mehta, and Neha Ajgaonkar.


The afternoon was a vibrant showcase of culture, with colorful decorations, traditional music, henna, and an array of delicious food creating a festive atmosphere. Many attendees embraced the spirit of Diwali by wearing beautiful traditional Indian attire, adding an extra layer of elegance and joy to the event.

Lisa Calise sitting patiently while getting her henna design.

 

Maria Apse showing off her henna design. 
Shailesh Naidu and Michael Milligan. 
Lily Yang, Kathy O'Neil, and Andrew Russel filling in. 


The program also highlighted Diwali’s rich significance across Hindu, Jain, and Sikh traditions, offering insights into how the holiday is celebrated and its deeper meaning of light triumphing over darkness.
We hope this celebration left everyone feeling connected, inspired, and full of festive cheer. Thank you for making this event so special—your energy and enthusiasm truly lit up the evening!
 

Delicious dahi puri and other foods served at the Diwali event. 
Samosa  and other delicious foods.

Special thanks to the Diwali committee for making this event a huge success!

  • Akshit Mehta
  • Kristina England
  • Maria Dahod
  • Nick Jain
  • Shailesh Naidu
  • Tanvi Rajest Makwana
  • Tejal Patel
  • Tim Young
  • Vanita Chawla

  • Vanitha Reddy

     

    UMPO employees posing in front of the Happy Diwali backdrop.