‘Festival of Lights’ Casts Warmth as Families Hang Onto Heritage : Culture: Gathering gives adoptive children and their parents a time to enjoy and learn about their roots.

Six-year-old Brandon Lowder anxiously waited in line in his Camarillo back yard Saturday for his turn to Pin the Flame on the Diwali Lamp.

Although the gathering of about 20 children could have passed for any Southern California birthday party, these children were at Brandon’s home for a different kind of celebration: to share and learn about India--and their roots.

All of the youngsters--ages 2 to 9--were adopted by Southern California couples and single parents with the help of Bal Jagat-Children’s World, a Chatsworth-based adoption service.

Founded in 1983 by Hemlata Momaya, a native of Calcutta, Bal Jagat has found homes around Southern California for about 500 children from 20 countries, including India, Romania, Russia, Paraguay and China.

Saturday’s festivities in the spacious back yard of Brian and Sandy Lowder--which attracted families from Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties--featured the Hindu year-ending celebration Diwali, or the “Festival of Lights.”

“It’s very important for these children to know where they come from and to be exposed to both cultures,” Momaya said.

“All of these children ask why are they different from their white parents,” she said. “If you teach them from childhood, they are never confused who they are when they grow up.”

Momaya said similar festivities are organized for children of Chinese, Romanian, Paraguayan, Russian and Mexican descent.

Brandon, 6, is Indian-born, as is his 4-year-old sister, Amanda. Their parents sought the help of Bal Jagat after a futile years-long attempt to adopt through the bureaucracy-laden domestic system.

“It was a real unhappy experience,” said Brian Lowder, a manager at Browning-Ferris Industries in Santa Paula. “Bal Jagat, though, was a total opposite. It was a complete success.”

As the children played on a swing set, ate Indian foods, listened to storytelling and attempted to pin a orange paper flame atop a make-believe Deepa--the clay lamp used for Diwali decoration--parents swapped stories about their adoption experiences.

“Because I was single, I knew I wouldn’t get anywhere adopting a child in Los Angeles County,” said Jill Johnson, 49, of Westlake Village.

Johnson adopted two children--Ryan, 7, and Kelly, 5--with the help of Bal Jagat when the children were only a few months old. Johnson is expecting her third India-born child, a boy, in the next few months.

“I know my brother will be nice,” said Ryan with a wide smile, “because his middle name will be Rajan, which is Indian for ‘Sunshine.”’

Momaya said couples and single parents run into many problems when attempting to adopt locally. Strict guidelines include age and race consideration.

“They only want to match black children with black parents and white children with white parents,” Momaya said. “That can make it really hard to match parents with a child.”

Marilyn Glasscock of San Fernando said she and her husband, Charles, ran into a brick wall when they attempted to adopt a child locally.

“I had doors slammed in my face all the time,” said Glasscock, 52. “I was in my early 40s and I wanted a child under 2 years old. I didn’t have a chance.”

So, she sought the help of Bal Jagat.

“Momaya was the only one that would listen to me,” Glasscock said.

Six years ago, the Glasscocks were united with 4 1/2-month-old Christopher. They are awaiting a second child they hope to be adopting in the next six months.

Karen and Steve Pelmont of Reseda also are awaiting their second child. They too have a troublesome story to tell of an attempt to adopt in the past.

“We went through the long process of adopting a boy, but after just four months, we had to give him up,” said Karen Pelmont, who volunteers for Bal Jagat. “The mother was only 14 and she decided after a while that she wanted the child.”

The Pelmonts’ 4-year-old son, Jason, is expected to have a sister within the next several weeks.

“We’re hoping she’s here by Christmas,” Karen Pelmont said.

For Terryl Miller of Ventura, Bal Jagat also proved to be a successful alternative to the local adoption system.

In 1985, the single parent thought she had successfully adopted a newborn, only to have the boy’s mother reverse her decision after several months.

“The mother decided she wanted the child returned,” said Miller. “It was absolutely devastating.”

Soon after, Miller, 47, an associate executive director of Interface: Children and Family Services, heard about Bal Jagat and contacted Momaya.

After the normal rigorous screening and application process, which lasted nearly a year, Miller adopted daughter Jordan, now 6.

At the Diwali celebration Saturday, Jordan wore a green, flowing sari, the traditional dress of India.

“It’s important to have her around people of color and expose her to Indian culture,” said Miller, who is also the mother of an domestically adopted 5-year-old son.