Cumming, GA, October 23, 2025: As Forsyth County’s night skies erupted with the brilliance of Diwali fireworks this October, sparks also flew in several online community groups. Debates flared between those who took issue with the noisy disruptions that stretched late into the night and those who saw the fireworks as joyful expressions of culture. Interestingly, most of the voices in these discussions — both for and against the fireworks — came from non-Indian residents, while many Indian Americans chose to stay silent, mostly refraining from responding even when comments carried racial undertones or were openly hostile.
The county itself has officially embraced the festival. The Forsyth County Commission has recognized Diwali in recent years, and community celebrations at the Cumming City Center and local library branches have drawn hundreds. Under Georgia law, fireworks are permitted until 11:59 p.m., and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office this year posted a friendly message reminding residents to “be mindful of your surroundings and neighbors.”
Still, for some families, the nightly fireworks, often celebrated on the streets, was not a pleasant time. A post in a popular Forsyth neighborhood Facebook group summed up the frustration felt by some:
“🎃🎃 PSA 🎃🎃 Now that we’ve covered Diwali 🪔 and the multi-night display of fireworks, a quick reminder that trick-or-treating is on October 31st…as it has been since 1930ish. 👻”…