Cerritos: County marks Diwali, Solanki makes history as mayor
Los Angeles County officially recognized Diwali for the fourth consecutive year, with Supervisor Janice Hahn's unanimously approved motion bringing county-level recognition to the Festival of Lights and celebrations to the SoCal Diwali Festival in Cerritos. In a separate milestone, Naresh Solanki was unanimously elected Cerritos's first Indian-American mayor, ending years of anticipation for the city's Indian-American community. Together these developments reflect the growing civic presence and influence of South Asians in one of Southern California's most prominent diaspora cities.
🗳️ County Recognizes Diwali for Fourth Consecutive Year
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn officially recognizing Diwali, the Festival of Lights, for the fourth year in a row. Hahn first championed the county's recognition of Diwali in 2022, making it the first such recognition in the county's history, and has successfully renewed the motion each year since. The October 2025 vote affirms the cultural and spiritual significance of Diwali for thousands of Hindu and Sikh families across the county. Hahn, whose Fourth District includes Cerritos and surrounding South Asian communities, planned to join the SoCal Diwali Festival in Cerritos that same weekend to mark the occasion alongside local residents. The festival is observed by more than one billion people worldwide. Hahn noted in a statement that recognizing Diwali sends an important signal that county government values and acknowledges the traditions that matter to its diverse communities. The consistency of the annual recognition — now four years running — has turned the Board's vote into a meaningful ritual for Indian-American residents across greater Los Angeles, reflecting an institutionalized commitment to honoring the cultural contributions of the South Asian diaspora in civic life. [1]
🗳️ Solanki Becomes Cerritos's First Indian-American Mayor
Naresh Solanki was unanimously elected the first Indian-American Mayor of Cerritos on April 17, with all five city council members voting in his favor in a 5-0 decision at City Hall. The moment carried particular weight for the local community because Cerritos's long-standing tradition of rotating the mayorship to the sitting mayor pro-tem had been broken two years earlier, when Solanki was bypassed and Grace Hue was elevated instead. This time, Councilman Jim Edwards immediately nominated Solanki, with Councilman Frank Yokoyama seconding the motion. City Hall filled with family, friends, supporters, and well-wishers who traveled from across Southern California to witness the historic occasion. Planning Commissioner Deepak Jhaveri called it long overdue and expressed hope that Solanki would serve as a role model motivating future Indian-American leaders. In his acceptance speech, Solanki named public safety as his top priority, pledging to work closely with Cerritos Sheriff's personnel. He also committed to prudent fiscal management, protecting city services, and attracting new business investment to grow the city's revenue base. He praised the city's award-winning public library and Performing Arts Center. Prominent attendees included Los Angeles County Board Chair Janice Hahn and former Supervisor Don Knabe, who drove from Temecula specifically to lend his support. [3]
Sources: [1] COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES (.gov) · [3] India Journal