The founding chapter of the oldest national association of Indians in the United States built its flagship event in New York City. But as more Indian people headed east to Long Island, the organization saw an opportunity to chart a new course. Last year, the Association of Indians in America-New York Chapter brought its Deepavali festival to the Town of Babylon's Overlook Beach for the first time after 37 years at Manhattan’s South Street Seaport. On Saturday, the festival celebrating the Diwali holiday returns to Long Island. The success has been driven by a surging population. The number of Long Island residents born in India rose by almost 16.5% from 2008-2012 to 2018-2022, bringing the total to over 35,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's comparison of the two five-year periods. Read more at the link in bio. (Photos: Debbie Egan-Chin) . . . #longisland #longislandny #suffolkcounty #babylon #diwali