Earlier this month, one of the most exclusive and culturally significant events of the year – the Annual “All That Glitters Diwali Ball” – returned to New York City at the iconic Lotte New York Palace. Once again, South Asia’s most influential voices across fashion, entertainment, media, tech, and business gathered to enjoy an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, fare from one of The New York Times’ 100 Best Restaurants in NYC 2025, Bungalow; and an exclusive live performance by Indo WareHouse.
The celebration was heavily supported by Lexus, the company displayed a beautifully decorated car at the venue itself that the celebrity guests enjoyed. “The support we’ve received from iconic brands like Lexus and Pernod Ricard over the years reflects how deeply the mainstream now recognizes our community as an essential part of the cultural zeitgeist,” says Anita Chatterjee, a key organizer of the gala and Founder & CEO of A-Game Public Relations.
This year’s Diwali Ball continued its philanthropic mission by raising funds for the South Asian Council for Social Services and His Majesty King Charles’ British Asian Trust, supporting critical global humanitarian initiatives. This follows last year’s successful fundraising for relief efforts in Gaza, Ukraine, and disaster zones affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, in partnership with World Central Kitchen.
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, marks a celebration of prosperity, renewal, and the triumph of light over darkness. The All That Glitters Diwali Ball stands as a powerful symbol of cultural pride, community, and connection, bringing visibility to South Asian stories, talent, and leadership on a global stage. Since its inception, the All That Glitters Diwali Ball has been instrumental in spreading awareness about the holiday and creating cultural connection, setting the stage for a new wave of brand-supported Diwali celebrations. The South Asian community is a growing and influential consumer segment that holds $1.3T+ of spending power in the U.S., attracting increased attention from industries across the board.
“The All That Glitters Diwali Ball is more than a celebration; it affirms the South Asian community’s cultural and economic influence. Asian Americans in the U.S. now wield about $1.3 trillion in buying power (Nielsen, 2024). Within that, South Asians are among the highest-earning and fastest-growing consumer segments (Kellogg School of Management, 2024). It is time our celebrations are recognized as commercial opportunities in their own right. When brands invest in occasions like Diwali, they are amplifying awareness, creating markets, and fueling long-term economic opportunity for our community. My hope is that it opens up even more opportunity and visibility for South Asians everywhere,” shared Anjula Acharia, Founder, All That Glitters Diwali Ball and of, A-Series Investments & Management.
This invite-only black-tie event, conceptualized and founded by entertainment executive Anjula Acharia, is often referred to as the “South Asian Met Gala.” Renowned for honoring South Asian culture and community, this year’s ball brought together an intentionally curated guest list of changemakers to celebrate Diwali with their allies and peers, including Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Actor), Nick Jonas (Musician), Aasif Mandvi (Actor), Anjula Acharia (Founder, All That Glitters Diwali Ball; Founder, A-Series Investments & Management; Manager, Priyanka Chopra Jonas), Avantika (Actor), Bhumi Pednekar (Bollywood Actor), Bozoma Saint John (Television Star, On Brand with Jimmy Fallon, RHOBH), Falguni Shane Peacock (Fashion Designer), Gurinder Chadha (Filmmaker), Jay Sean (Musician), Jessel Taank (Television Personality), Kal Penn (Actor), Nora Fatehi (Musician), Prabal Gurung (Fashion Designer), Siddarth (Bollywood Actor), Vikas Khanna (Celebrity Chef); and C-Suite executives from top global brands including Robert Kyncl (CEO, Warner Music Group), Anjali Sud (CEO, Tubi), Bing Chen (Founder/CEO, Gold House), Divya Mathur (CMO, Revolve), Jonthan Bottomley (CMO, Calvin Klein), Monte Lipman (CEO, Republic Records), Rajnish Bharadwaj (COO, American Express National Bank), Samina Virk (CEO, Vestiare Collective), Viral Patel (CEO, Blackstone Private Equities Strategies), Anita Chatterjee (Founder/CEO, A-Game Public Relations), and more.
Premier sponsors include Pernod Ricard, Lexus, Paramount, and GoldHouse. Additional sponsors include Invisalign and Captiv8. The evening was produced and planned by Exquisite Events, with PR and brand partnerships by A-Game Public Relations, audience engagement strategy by 25percent.co, and decor by Design House Decor.