Monday marks the start of Diwali, the festival of light celebrated across the South Asian community.
Sunday, a Diwali festival in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset honored Indian culture, food, and tradition.
Sunday’s Diwali festival was also a gift for artisans who import products from India. In August, president trump doubled tariffs on Indian imports, raising the cost to 50%.
Facing lower sales margins this year, Ankita Maheshwari, the owner of Indish Creations drove up from San Jose to be a vendor at the Outer Sunset Diwali festival.
She uses materials shipped from India in her handmade creations.
“I got one parcel and they charged me 70% of the price I paid for the material, so that was a lot, but I can’t increase my costs so much because customers don’t buy, so that’s hitting hard,” said Maheshwari.
When it comes to buying Indian ingredients, shoppers say they’re paying attention to the higher costs and noticing fewer options on store shelves.
“When we go to the Indian store and we are shopping for different goods it changes my perspective of whether I buy it or not,” said Flora Sarter of San Francisco.
Diwali is a celebration of new beginnings, joy and hope.