Richmond Hill shines bright as Diwali motorcade lights up the night

On Oct. 18, Richmond Hill, Queens’s streets were illuminated with a radiant glow of lights decorated on several vehicles and floats at the annual Diwali motorcade, which kicked off at sunset from Smokey Park.

Indian melodies filled the air as the parade made its way through the neighborhood, carrying celebrants in colorful costumes to celebrate the festival of lights. The festival attracted thousands of devotees, who looked on in awe as they welcomed the mesmerizing cavalcade. As customary, “sweetmeat” was handed out along the parade route.

Thanks to the Divya Iyoti Association Diwali committee, headed by organizer Lakshmee Singh, the celebration returned for the first time since it was sidelined by coronavirus, causing celebrants to settle just for a cultural presentation at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard.

This year, the Diwali motorcade was bigger than ever. It started with a festival of colorful, ornately decorated tents around the perimeter of Smokey Park, showcasing sponsors, organizations, Temples, and small business owners. Complimentary gifts were handed out as part of the Hindu festival that celebrated the new year.

The festivities that began at 1 p.m. with many activities, including an explosive cultural presentation, showcased the underlying theme of light over darkness, good over evil.

Noticeably, the Gods and Goddesses were majestically dressed in bejeweled costumes as they sat like statues in flower petals on the ground. After which, they paraded to the stage for a singing performance as part of the cultural presentation, emceed by two radio personalities, who ushered in the new year on the Hindu calendar.

Some of the performers included the Aatma Shakti Dance, by Subir and Janjetta Singh, KSA Elevations Dance Group, the Saraswatti Dance Academy, Natraj Center for the Performing Arts, Bhuvaneshwar Mandir performers – Maya Baksh and Kaden Clark, Sattie Ramnarine, Shoma Farishtey Dance Troupe, Dheeraj Gayaram Dance, and the Sanasani Dancers, among others.

The Guyana Consulate in New York also sponsored a Goddess to represent the diplomatic office.

Organizer, Lakshmee Singh, said the return of the Diwali Motorcade in 2025 was nothing short of historic.

“After a five-year pause of the motorcade portion of the Diwali celebrations, our team at the Divya Jyoti Association worked tirelessly to bring the magic of Diwali back to the streets of Queens — this time bigger, brighter, and more inclusive than ever.”

“From coordinating over 40 cultural booths, curating a grand concert with international artists like Savita Singh, to organizing the vibrant parade filled with floats, temples, youth groups, and community leaders — every detail was a labor of love.”

“We faced logistical challenges, from securing permits to accommodating record-breaking crowds, but we made it happen with unwavering community support and volunteer spirit. Queens is the heartbeat of the Indo-Caribbean diaspora — and we plan to keep that heartbeat strong and glowing for generations to come,” Singh said.

“Special shout out to our grand sponsor, TD Bank, and to the 102 precinct, Nicholas Salamone, and the 106 precinct, Seth Jaffe, for their spectacular work,” she added.

She also thanked top-notch event decorators, Star Party rental, and Toro Sounds, who went above and beyond, “what I could ever imagine. We did not expect a mammoth crowd, but when it happened, everybody stepped in to get the job done. We could not have done it without them,” said Singh, also thanking her mother, Dolly Singh, “whose vision and dedication truly brought this dream to life.”

It was so beautiful to experience a new reimagination of celebrating Diwali in Richmond Hill. This religious and cultural transplant of the “Festival of Lights“ has many significances. I observe in solidarity, bringing back immersive childhood memories in Guyana, which empowered my advocacy to help make Diwali a NYC School Holiday, said Mohamed Q. Amin, founder of the Caribbean Equality Project, in a social media post.

Amin added, “Thank you to the Divya Jyoti Association of New York, @lakshmeesingh, and the organizing team for having us.”