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[Encore] Free to be Punjabi
October 31st marks the beginning of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. It’s the most important holiday in India. In celebration, we are re-releasing this episode from Season 1.
The allure of abundant work and fertile soil drew many to California, and in particular, the rich rural areas of the state. Punjabi workers came in small numbers to Yuba City in the early 1900s, but after Indian independence in 1947 when Punjab was split in two, that trickle became a steady stream. Now this rural area known for its peach orchards is the heart of a vibrant South Asian Punjabi community, rich with traditions and culture.
In this episode, hear from alumna Deepeaka Dhaliwal about her family ties to the area and some of the sites she explored in her research for her thesis Yuba-Sutter: A Case Study for Heritage Conservation in Punjabi-American Communities.