The UC Office of the President recently celebrated Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, with a unique event sponsored by the Asian Pacific Islander Staff Association (APISA), an Employee Resource Group. This gathering highlighted the shared belief that diversity is essential to the UC Office of the President community and emphasized how we can learn about our common values through traditions like Diwali. For those unable to attend, we hope you also feel the optimism, joy, and determination that we experienced during this ancient Hindu festival of lights.
The elements of a joyous gathering – talented and generous community members sharing perspectives
UC Office of the President team members came together to share their reflections
During the afternoon celebration, guests enjoyed various elements of the festival, including excellent food, music, dance, and shared personal memories. We were honored to welcome over 150 University of California staff members both in-person and online, including UC Office of the President leaders Rachael Nava, chief operating officer, and Nathan Brostrom, chief financial officer.
Brostrom, co-sponsor of APISA alongside Yvette Gullatt, vice president for Graduate and Undergraduate Affairs and chief diversity officer for the UC system, lit the diya candles with Nava. He also expressed his appreciation for working with an Employee Resource Group like APISA and shared reflections on Santa Lucia, a Swedish tradition from his heritage, which he coincidentally shares with Nava. This moment beautifully illustrated the parallels between diverse cultural traditions.
Krishna Roy, UC Office of the President IT Services team member, also shared personal reflections via Zoom, as did her colleague Sneha Patel, who provided a beautiful written statement (both are provided, below).
Local artists and artisans offered unique artistic talents, from singing to cooking
The hybrid event featured performances and contributions from local artists and artisans across UC Berkeley, Oakland, and surrounding communities. Highlights included:
- Nazakat, a UC Berkeley Indian dance group, showcased vibrant, rhythmic Northern Indian dances and even taught participants a few dance moves.
- Premsheela Kumari, a spiritual Indian singing soloist, captivated attendees with her melodic voice and heartfelt wisdom.
- Fathima Jabeen, a talented henna artist, attracted crowds with her intricate and stunning henna designs, delighting many guests just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Biryani Kabab Halal Indian and Pakistani Cuisine provided delicious pakoras, vegetarian fritters, and chutneys, complemented by contributions from 50 volunteers who brought an array of homemade and locally sourced snacks, representing the best of the Bay Area.
Special thanks to A P I S A leaders and event co-chairs, Barbara Hui, California Digital Libraries, and Shirley Bittlingmeier, IT Services, and to the UC Office of the President Events staff, including Alex Santos, whose creative and professional guidance and support were instrumental in making this event a success.
Event memories through images – find more @UCTechNews
Please enjoy the visual recap below, featuring videos and photos from this unforgettable celebration.
Diwali Diya Lighting
UC Berkeley Dancers
Krishna Roy sharing Diwali stories
Indian singing by Premsheela Kumari
Henna art by Fathima Jabeen
Asian Pacific Islander Staff Association (A P I S A)
Event Planning Team
Thank you, event volunteers, some of whom are shown in these photos. See a partial list of team members, below.
Gratitudes
Event volunteers
- Anisha Ashraf
- Anna Chan
- Sneha Patel
- May Saechao
- Anvita Seth Kapoor
- Ni Qiu
- Krishna Roy
- Melvin Tangonan
- Sujit Thapa
- Tony Yang
- ….and 50 others!
Event co-chairs
California Digital Library
UC Office of the President
IT Services
UC Office of the President
Event managers
Information Technology Services
UC Office of the President
Event co-organizers
More event photos
Exchanging Diwali stories among UC employees
Krishna Roy, Information Technology Infrastructure Manager
Namaste everyone. My name is Krishna Roy. I manage UC Path operations in technology, delivery services. That is T D S. I’ve been with TDS for the past five years. I’m sure most of you have heard about the Indian holiday Diwali…..As a child, I still remember saving money for many, many months to buy as many fireworks as possible, and even drying them in the sun to ensure that my fireworks made the loudest noise in the neighborhood. We used to light small oil lamps called Diyas with oil and wicks, placing them in rows to illuminate the night. To me, this beautiful holiday represents unity in diversity, and promotes values like family-first, the same as security-first at UCOP. They both are same – right? And gender equality are also values that are embraced and supported here at UCOP. Thank you all. Hope you enjoy the rest of your day.
Krishna Roy, Information Technology Infrastructure Manager
Sneha Patel, senior IT project manager, UC Office of the President
Hi, my name is Sneha Patel, I’m a senior IT project manager. I joined the UC Office of the President Project Management Office (P M O) department in July 2023. I have had the opportunity to work with many teams since I joined UC, and I have loved every minute of it. I was born in India and raised in California, so it has been a blessing to grow up with both American and Indian traditions. One of my favorite Diwali traditions that I started recently was doing rangoli with my kids. For those that are unaware, Rangoli is a traditional Indian art form that has religious (good luck, prosperity, and happiness), cultural (way for families to come together and celebrate) and symbolic (when rangoli is made at the entrance of the house, it brings in positive energy) significance.
Sneha Patel, senior IT project manager, UC Office of the President
IT Services
UC Office of the President
Please let us know if you have a Diwali story you would like us to share.
Authors
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UC Office of the President
Marketing & Communications
UC Office of the President