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Piedmont proclaims Diwali; students say recognition strengthens belonging
Summary
Mayor Betsy Smigle Anderson read a Diwali proclamation on Oct. 20 recognizing the festival and inviting students to speak; high school students said the city recognition increased visibility and belonging for South Asian and brown students.
The City of Piedmont proclaimed Oct. 20, 2025 as Diwali celebration day during the Oct. 20 city council meeting, citing Diwali's cultural importance and noting that California recently recognized Diwali as a state holiday.
Mayor Betsy Smigle Anderson read the proclamation and invited Piedmont High School students to the podium. Maher Batcher, a senior, said: "To have a remembrance and acknowledgment of our culture and our history is so incredibly special." Kalyani Spikarin, another senior, described how classroom Diwali presentations when she was younger made the recognition meaningful. Students and officials gathered for a photo following the proclamation.
Why it matters: students and families said the city recognition is an important step toward visibility and inclusion for South Asian and brown students in the community.
