The event, which ran until 10 p.m., was free to the public and included food and entertainment. Ramachandran, the first South Asian elected to office in Oakland, said the festival stands out for offering free food to all attendees.

"As you can see here, there was a line at the door at 6 p.m.," Ramachandran said. "People want a Diwali celebration that feels inclusive, that feels Oakland."

The venue reached standing-room-only capacity by the time dancing and speeches began. State Assemblymember Ash Kalra, the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature, also spoke at the event.

Diwali, the South Asian festival of lights, is celebrated around the world at this time of year. Ramachandran said the Oakland event is designed to welcome people of all backgrounds and traditions.

"Oakland Diwali is really a celebration that's for everybody, that honors the cultural and spiritual roots of the holiday and brings the Oakland spice and excitement into that," she said.

Several local companies and organizations hosted booths at the festival, including the San Francisco Unicorns Major League Cricket team, which plays at the Oakland Coliseum. Aundria Mirabrishami, the team's general manager of consumer business, said many attendees were surprised to learn cricket has a presence in the Bay Area.

"What we have cricket in the Bay Area? We have cricket in the U.S.?" she recalled people asking. "The answer is yes!"

Families from across the Bay Area danced and celebrated into the night, with attendees of all ages filling the venue.