Filmmaker Mira Nair hosted a Diwali dinner on Wednesday evening at Passerine, an upscale Indian bistro near Gramercy Park in Manhattan, drawing nearly 70 authors, artists, and cultural figures to celebrate the Hindu festival of lights. The event marked a departure from Nair’s usual Diwali traditions, which have included lighting candles and creating rangoli decorations, reflecting a more subdued observance this year following the recent passing of her mother.
Co-hosted alongside novelist Salman Rushdie and former Vanity Fair editor in chief Radhika Jones, the gathering served as a fundraiser for the Asian American Writers’ Workshop. The dinner brought together a diverse group of attendees, including longtime participants in Diwali celebrations as well as newcomers to the festival. Among the guests were comedian Aasif Mandvi, painter Francesco Clemente and his wife Alba, fashion designer Bibhu Mohapatra, journalist Tamron Hall, and art curator Racquel Chevremont.
The evening featured conversations spanning topics such as artificial intelligence and the future of democracy, interspersed with a three-course menu blending traditional Indian flavors with contemporary influences, including samosas with yogurt and strawberry chutney, spiced chicken, and sticky date cake. Guests mingled over spiced margaritas and wine, with a warm and festive atmosphere.
In speeches addressing the cultural and political significance of Diwali, Rushdie referenced the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party in India, a movement advocating for educational reform and fair elections amid ongoing democracy protests. “Celebrate the cockroach,” Rushdie urged, highlighting the spirit of resistance and change. Nair echoed this sentiment, describing herself as “mama cockroach” and emphasizing the festival’s theme of lighting a lamp for transformation. Her decades of work often explore diaspora identity and social issues, including her Oscar-nominated film “Salaam Bombay!” and upcoming project on painter Amrita Sher-Gil.
Nair’s presence was particularly notable as the mother of Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s mayor-elect, whose election she supported during last year’s campaign. Though Mamdani did not attend the dinner, Nair’s role as a prominent figure in the South Asian American community was widely acknowledged. Attendees reflected on Diwali as a celebration of light and resilience during challenging times, reinforcing connections to heritage, family, and hope.
The event concluded with guests joining in singing “Happy Birthday” to Nair, whose birthday falls on Thursday, underscoring the sense of community fostered at the gathering. The evening encapsulated both a reverence for tradition and engagement with contemporary artistic and political issues among New York’s South Asian diaspora.