The deep bass from the drums blend with the clap of cymbals and clang of gongs, it creates a perfectly timed beat with the footwork of dancers performing a folkloric lion dance.

The 20^th Annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Festival brought together people of various cultural backgrounds to enjoy the festivities on a clear sunny day in downtown Hayward.  The stage in front of City Hall faces a grassy area where people young and old gathered to watch 15 groups perform colorful exhibitions including traditional dances, martial arts, and folkloric performances.

The Asian American Heritage Festival, May 19, held on commemorated Asian-Pacific Heritage Month by introducing the Asian culture to a broader community, according to organizer John Hsieh.

“Through the process of celebration, every Asian will learn how to respect each other and that is really important,” said Hsieh.

Asians and Pacific Islanders represent 4.8 million out of 38 million, people in the state of California, a figure from the United States Census Bureau.   The classification, Asian and Pacific Islander encompasses hundreds of fundementally independent cultures. Each has their own heritage and traditions including Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Polynesian, Taiwanese, Indian, Korean and more.

“Different ethnicities have different cultures and religion and lots of people can’t get along because of religion,” said Hsieh.

This year, Hsieh and festival organizers felt it was important to commemorate Asian Americans as well as promote peace, unity and diversity.

To kick off the Festival, organizers arranged a joint prayer with religious leaders from the surrounding area.

“We are praying for all the people, not just Asians, for our city and our nations,” said Rev. Peter Son Vo of All Saints Church, Hayward.

The streets were closed off to make room for an eclectic array of vendors and festival sponsors. People lined up to try Ethnic inspired foods, barbeque, kettle corn and brightly colored snow cones in various flavors.

Girls with fresh faces and rosy cheeks dance to the moving beats of Bollywood style music. The bright red sarees with intricate gold stitching flow along with the sway of their hips and fluid arms.

“It’s really nice to be able to express ourselves through our culture,” said Kajal Raju, a student at Mission High School in San Jose, who performed classical Indian and Bollywood style dance with the Aero Dance Academy. “There’s so much diversity in the Bay Area and it’s nice to be able to say I’m south Indian and have all this rich culture behind me.”

The festival is historically held in Union City, and draws more than 4,000 attendees. Festival organizer Hsieh and his team have been working with city Officials since the beginning of the year to have the event transplanted to Hayward.

“To relocate the festival is not easy,” said Hsieh. “The city officials here at Hayward have been welcoming and accommodating.”

The end of the festival featured a program called, “Keep Wishing In What You Believe In,” where Hayward resident and vocalist, Maddie B sang soulful renditions of contemporary hits as festival organizers wearing white T-shirts with the words, “unity and diversity” buzzed around to help vendors clean up.