New York City Diwali Celebration

DATE: Sunday, November 15, 2026 TIME: 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. LOCATION: Utsav Restaurant, 1185 6th Avenue, New York, NY COST: $65 per person for Cornell-affiliated attendees and young alumni; $70 per person for Columbia and Harvard attendees Join the Cornell Asian Alumni Association (CAAA), the Harvard Asian American Alumni Alliance (H4A) and the Asian Columbia Alumni Association (ACAA) on November 15th from 12:00–3:00 PM at Utsav Restaurant. Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is the Indian Festival of Lights, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The name “Deepavali” translates to “row of lights,” and communities across South and Southeast Asia, as well as around the world, observe this vibrant celebration. Our annual celebration will take place in a private room at Utsav and will feature a full Indian buffet lunch. The 10-course menu includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. As in previous years, we invite alumni, students, families, friends, and members of our broader IVY+ community to come together for an afternoon filled with celebration, conversation, and shared traditions. Whether you grew up celebrating Diwali or are experiencing it for the first time, everyone is welcome! Tickets are $65 per person for Cornell-affiliated attendees and $70 per person for non-Cornell attendees and include the full buffet lunch and all associated event activities. Space is limited, so we encourage guests to RSVP early. We look forward to celebrating Diwali with you! Event Questions? Email Moyouri Bhattacharjee (CAAA) at mb2282@cornell.edu, Pauline Lem (ACAA) at pl2038@caa.columbia.edu, and James Kim (H4A) at nyc@haaaa.com