“Further increase, enrich our nation’s tapestry of religious and cultural diversity.”
Hawaii Democrat Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu-origin woman to serve in the US Congress, has commended the decision of the United States Postal Service to issue a Diwali Forever stamp.
A first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony will take place on Wednesday, October 5, at the Consulate General of India in New York City.
“Every year, millions of people around the world gather to celebrate Diwali, the beautiful Festival of Lights, a time to reflect upon the victory of light over darkness, truth over untruth, righteousness over wrong. Diwali honors self-awareness, righteousness, and service to others before self—values that transcend different religions, backgrounds, and differences. This act by the U.S. Postal Service to recognize this special day is momentous and will further increase and enrich our nation’s tapestry of religious and cultural diversity,” said Gabbard in a statement.
In February 2013, the congresswoman co-sponsored House Resolution 47 calling for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to establish a postage stamp commemorating Diwali and has worked with community leaders around the effort, gathering more than 12,500 petition signatures in support of the stamp this year.
The stamp design is a photograph featuring a traditional diya oil lamp beautifully lit, sitting on a sparkling gold background. Diya lamps are usually made from clay with cotton wicks dipped in a clarified butter known as “ghee” or in vegetable oils.
USPS receives approximately 40,000 suggestions for stamp ideas annually from the public, and approximately 25 topic suggestions for commemorative stamps are selected by the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee each year for the Postmaster General’s approval.
Diwali is observed by Hindus, Christians, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists in the United States, India, and around the world. Also known as Deepavali, Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Spanning five days each autumn, it is considered by some to be the start of the new year. On the Hindu calendar, Diwali falls on the eve of, or on, the new moon that occurs between mid-October and mid-November.
2 Comments
The Post Office is going down fast. Carriers are not trained, have bad attitudes and are no longer someone who will work in “Sleet, snow and rain”. You are lucky to get your mail if there is a slight breeze. Mail is late if it arrives at all and postal carriers seem to have no idea how to do their jobs.
Tantalizing temptress Tulsi Gabbard is smart, sweet, stylish, shapely and seductive.