JITO USA San Francisco : JWF Diwali Mela 2024: A Celebration of Community and Entrepreneurship
The San Francisco Women’s community hosted the 3rd annual JITO USA Diwali Mela as part of the JITO Women’s Chapter initiatives. The event aimed to elevate and promote Jain community’s women-owned businesses in the SF Bay Area. Designed as a platform for networking, mutual assistance, and knowledge sharing, the Mela also gathered insights from women entrepreneurs regarding their challenges and aspirations, enabling JITO to provide tailored support. This year’s event embraced a diverse set of businesses, including many outside traditional sectors, and served as a vibrant celebration of entrepreneurship and the festive spirit of Diwali.
Fostering Community and Entrepreneurship
It was at the spacious Campbell Community Center. The 2024 Diwali Mela featured more than 42 vendors, including garments, jewelry, art, decoration, and a wide variety of food vendors. It was held at the spacious Campbell Community Center. The venue allowed for greater participation and offered ample room for both vendors and attendees to connect and engage. Community members showed enthusiastic support for the vendors, creating a lively and collaborative atmosphere throughout the day.
The next generation of Jains from PVSA also played an important role, volunteering alongside their parents and staying actively involved throughout the event. Their efforts brought a sense of community and collaboration, underscoring the shared values of the Jain community.
Feedback from attendees and vendors was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the event’s organization and its impact in showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit of the community. The Mela also inspired several new sign-ups for JITO membership, further strengthening the network of Jain entrepreneurs.
Our Gratitude
We are immensely grateful to all JITO SF members and the wider community for their support in making the JITO Diwali Mela 2024 a success. The participation and dedication of everyone involved—vendors, attendees, volunteers, and organizers—ensured that the event was both meaningful and impactful. Together, we celebrated Diwali in a way that truly reflects JITO’s "Learn-Earn-Return" philosophy, fostering growth and unity within the community.