Sona Chaandi in Artesia

A major thoroughfare normally filled with thousands of vehicles every day was replaced by thousands of pedestrians for the whole of Nov. 10 as the Little India Chamber of Commerce and the City of Artesia brought a Diwali Mela to Little India’s Pioneer Blvd.

The celebratory day and evening featured several blocks of entertainment and pastime activities, as about a half-mile stretch of Pioneer Blvd. was shut down to traffic to celebrate Diwali, one of India’s most revered and significant holidays.

Festivities were anchored on the south end of Pioneer Blvd., where a center stage was erected at 187th St. just above the Little India Village shopping center and adjacent to Jay Bharat restaurant.

A dandiya-raas event advertised to take place at the Diwali Mela never occurred, but attendees were still in a festive mood.