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The Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay celebrates Diwali
Indian Americans are now the largest single-origin Asian group in the country. The Indian American population in the U.S. grew from 387,000 in 1980 to 4.4 million in 2020.
Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay California / Ritz Carlton
Thirty Diwali revelers gathered at Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay California dressed in their festive best to enjoy Chef Sagar Gaikwad’s Diwali brunch. Tucked into the usual five star weekend buffet menu of smoked salmon Benedict and wagyu beef sliders were pani puri shells stuffed with tuna and avocado, lobster tail slathered with Konkani coconut-corn sauce, cauliflower steak served with pea thetcha (a Maharashtrian spicy chutney) and a tower of double ka meetha. Oysters on the half shell, each topped with its own distinct flavor, were a favorite at one table while a caviar tasting plate was at the next table. The party of Indian Americans of the Valley enjoyed the juxtaposition of dual tastes.
The confluence of cultures unfolded on the marigold flower bedecked table. Chef Simon and Chef Gaikwad greeted and met the guests. The fireplace was adorned with a rangoli of orange gold flowers.
The Indian American comes of age
Indian Americans are now the largest single-origin Asian group in the country. The Indian American population in the U.S. grew from 387,000 in 1980 to 4.4 million in 2020. (1980 Census report; AAPI Data’s AANHPI Community Counts). The 2020 Census counted 371,000 Indian Americans who identify with more than one race, bringing the total who identify as Indian American to nearly 4.8 million.
Additionally, Indiaspora reported that while Indian Americans only constitute 0.6% of the adult citizen population in the U.S., about 4.4% of senior positions in government are filled by Indian Americans.
Indian Americans tend to be more evenly distributed across various states when compared to other large Asian American groups, such as Filipino Americans and Chinese Americans.
Table 3. Top U.S. States for Eligible Indian American Voters
(Source: AAPI Data’s analysis of the 2022 American Community Survey 1-Year File)
| State | Pop. of Eligible Voters |
| California | 416,397 |
| Illinois | 203,940 |
| New Jersey | 203,940 |
| New York | 200,246 |
| Texas | 227,718 |
Diwali is celebrated by the nation
“ Guess who has the day off on Diwali !!i,” said an incredulous Roshn Marwah, a Californian implant in Washington DC. His friend Christina who works at a middle school in Virginia! Christina was home cooking an Indian meal for her Italian aunt. Diwali was declared a state holiday in Virginia, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The state of Georgia officially declared October a Hindu heritage month.
Asha Jadeja Motwani, a San Francisco Bay Area luminary shared a picture from the Wall Street journal on Facebook, “Funny how western media is beginning to use the “H word”. It’s losing the fear that saying something nice about Hindus will get it canceled -). In the past WSJ would not have dared to call Diwali a Hindu festival. It would have called it “South Asian” or Indian at best,” she wrote.
Hinduism is the third-largest religion in the world with one billion devotees across the globe, approximately three million reside in the United States.
A Ritzy Diwali !
At the Ritz, the revelers, dressed in traditional sarees and ethnic wear, sipped marigold colored mimosas. Gold and diamond jewelry sparkled on them. Men wore traditional jackets and shoes. A wall of flowers formed the perfect backdrop to capture the memories of the afternoon.
The hostess wore a traditional Paithani weave saree with a Bulgari mangalsutra. The solicitous host greeted every guest and enquired after their every need. Heitz Cellar, Napa Valley’s trailblazer in sustainable winemaking, served perfectly paired wine. The buttery champagne colored Chardonnay danced in the light streaming in from the windows that overlooked the pacific ocean.
As the sun set, warm fire pits danced their lights and sparkles flew into the air.
“Diwali home away from home is more about the incessant laughter and colorful outfits than the fireworks and Rangoli. Celebrating among friends is the same as celebrating with family what it used to be back home in India. Diwali gives an excuse to meet all our friends and family, spending time together and creating new memories and reminiscing old ones,” said the hostess, a resident of San Francisco.
This year Ritz Carlton with their Chef Gaikwad gave a perfect opportunity to celebrate.”
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