EVENT: Celebrate Diwali or “festival of lights” with UC Office of the President Asian Pacific Islander Association – October 21 – REGISTER NOW IF ZOOM GUEST

Please join the UC Office of the President Asian Pacific Islander Staff Association (APISA) team in celebrating the Diwali 2025 celebration at UC Office of the President with shared stories and an Indian diya lighting ceremony, singing and a dance performance, along with delicious Indian treats, music, conversation and more.   

Quick Facts

• What: APISA Diwali Celebration – all UCOP staff welcome in-person and any UC Tech community member can join via Zoom 
• When: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1-3 p.m. (Zoom option is also available)
• Where: Oakland: Broadway Conference Center (any UC Office of the President staff is welcome) or via Zoom (all UC community members welcome) 
• Online event: Register for the online event on Zoom RSVP for those who are unable to make it in person. All members of the UC community are welcome.
• In-person event Volunteer SIGN-UP form – UC Office of the President members, please sign up as soon as possible, or by Friday, October 1, 2025 at the latest. 
• For general in-person attendees, NO registration is required. 

Colleagues are welcome to attend in South Asian/Indian attire. Some have their own clothing, and others borrow from friends.

UC Berekeley Indian dancers, “Nazakat” performing at UC Office of the President during the 2024 Diwali celebration. Come see them again on October 21, 2025, and feel free to watch in-person (UC Office of the President staff), or via Zoom (all UC community members are welcome).

Preliminary Agenda:  

• 1-3 pm – Reception, with food, dance, and a hand-selected Indian music playlist (using digital wallpaper) and rangoli art, delicious Indian savory snacks (samosas/pakoras) and favorite sweets by the Diwali planning committee  
• 1:30-1:35 p.m. – Welcome (event organizers) 
• 1:35-1:40 p.m. – Diya Lighting (by UC Office of the President/APISA leaders, including Nathan Brostrom and Yvette Gullatt, vice president for Graduate and Undergraduate Affairs, Vice Provost for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Chief Diversity Officer – University of California System, and Nathan Brostrom. President James Milliken – president of the University of California will join us as well later during the event.
• 1:40-1:55 p.m. – Indian dance performance and dance lesson by Nazakat, UC Berkeley dancers
• 1:55 – 3 p.m. – Important opportunity to socialize with your colleagues over music and food. Learn more about team members at UC through each of these important opportunities. We hope you enjoy the Indian food, dance and other elements of the festival together.  

Menu

Aaloo Tikki Alupitki – Spiced potato patties, lightly fried to perfection

Pakora – Mixed Vegetable Fritter – Cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, green beans, and broccoli fritters

Paneer – Indian cheese

Roasted/Fried Soy Nuts & Corn – Tossed with cilantro and onions

Chutneys & Sauces

Coconut Chutney (Green)

Red Chutney

Mild Tomato Chutney (Light Red)

Beverages

Tea Chai – Traditional spiced tea with sugar and a hint of spice

Lassi (Mint Yogurt) – Refreshing, lightly sweetened mint yogurt drink

Desserts

Rice Kheer – Creamy rice pudding flavored with cardamom

Muruku – Crunchy, savory snack spirals

Barfi – Sweet milk-based confection

Gulab Jamun – Warm milk-solid dumplings in rose syrup

Event flyer:

UC Office of the President Diwali 2025 Planning Committee:   

Event managers: 

• Anvita Seth Kapoor, Business Resource Center, UC Office of the President
• Sushant Prasaad, IT Services, UC Office of the President
• Laurel Skurko, IT Services, UC Office of the President

Event co-chairs   

• Barbara Hui, California Digital Library, UC Office of the President  (APISA Chair)
• Shirley Bittlingmeier, IT Services, UC Office of the President  (APISA Co-Chair)

Other event leads: 

• Anna Chan, Business Resource Center, UC Office of the President (APISA Secretary)
• Melvin Tangonan, Office of the General Counsel of the Regents, UC Office of the President (APISA co-treasurer)
• Ni Qiu, Retirement Administration Services Center, UC Office of the President (APISA co-treasurer)

UC Office of the President Employee Resource Group Leads

• Lalitha Sankaran, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, UC Office of the President
• Dennis McIver, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, UC Office of the President

Diya lighting with UCOP leaders Rachael Nava and Nathan Brostrom, with APISA leader, Barbara Hui.

Krishna Roy, Information Technology Services at UC Office of the President, on drying her fireworks as a child in India so that her Diwali fireworks would be the loudest, and sharing other Diwali memories with colleagues via Zoom during the celebration in 2025. See the YouTube version of this video, which includes captions, and come share other stories with a family of colleagues at UC Office of the President this Diwali.

Members of the Diwali programming committee