Diwali Gets Official Recognition and Cerritos Elects Its First Indian-American Mayor

Cerritos and the broader Los Angeles County have marked two milestones reflecting the growing visibility of the South Asian community in Southern California — official county recognition of Diwali entering its fourth consecutive year and the election of Cerritos's first Indian-American mayor. Both developments show how deeply the Desi community has embedded itself in the civic and cultural life of the region.

🗳️ LA County Recognizes Diwali for Fourth Year, Celebrates at Cerritos Festival

For the 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 observed by more than one billion people around the world. Hahn first led the effort to have the county recognize Diwali in 2022 — the first time in the county's history — and has secured that recognition every year since. The 2025 recognition came alongside Hahn's plans to attend the SoCal Diwali Festival in Cerritos, reinforcing the city's longstanding role as a hub for South Asian cultural celebration in Los Angeles County. "Diwali is significant for thousands of families across LA County, and I think it's important for government to recognize that," Hahn said in the announcement. "I'm proud to have led our County in doing that for our Hindu, Sikh" — and broader South Asian — communities who observe the holiday. The unanimous Board vote reflects that recognizing South Asian cultural occasions has earned broad support at the county level. Cerritos, which has a large and established South Asian population, has served for years as one of Southern California's most prominent venues for Diwali festivities. Hahn's consistent presence at the Cerritos festival connects official county recognition to the lived celebration on the ground, giving the proclamation tangible meaning rather than leaving it as a symbolic document. The four-year streak of unanimous approval signals institutional momentum and suggests that this recognition is becoming a settled part of LA County's annual calendar, a development advocates in the Desi community have worked toward for many years. [1]

Naresh Solanki Becomes First Indian-American Mayor of Cerritos

Naresh Solanki was unanimously elected by a 5-0 vote of his fellow council members as the first Indian-American Mayor of Cerritos on April 17, a moment that drew a record number of attendees to City Hall and was described by those present as charged with excitement and jubilation. Solanki, who had served as Mayor Pro Tem, was in line for the role under Cerritos's longstanding tradition of rotating the mayoral post among council colleagues, with the Mayor Pro Tem serving as the automatic heir. Two years earlier, that tradition had been broken when Solanki was bypassed and Grace Hue became mayor instead, a development that had shocked and dismayed many in the community. His election this time was set right formally and publicly, with Council member Jim Edwards immediately nominating him and Council member Frank Yokoyama seconding the nomination. Planning Commissioner Deepak Jhaveri called the outcome "not just long overdue but very well deserved," expressing hope that Solanki would serve as a role model and motivate the South Asian community to continue producing civic leaders. Family members, longtime supporters, and well-wishers traveled from across the Southland to witness the occasion. Among the dignitaries in attendance were LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn and former Supervisor Don Knabe, who drove from Temecula with his wife specially to attend. In his acceptance speech, Solanki named public safety as his top priority, pledging to work closely with the Cerritos Sheriff's department. He also committed to fiscal prudence, protecting the city's budget and resources while pursuing new business investment and development. Solanki spoke warmly of Cerritos's internationally recognized public library and state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center as civic assets he intends to steward with care. [3]

Sources: [1] hahn.lacounty.gov · [3] India Journal