Diwali has survived political, economic and social changes throughout history, says Maloney.
Bureau Report
(This story was updated on February 5)
NEW YORK: Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan and Queens) joined local Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-Queens) and India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Hardeep Singh Puri, Assistant Secretary-General for Intergovernmental Support and Strategic Partnerships – UN Women, Lakshmi Puri, and local community leader Ranju Batra, President of the Association of Indians in America-NY, to rally grass-roots support to press the Citizens Stamp Advisory Commission of the U.S. Postal Service to issue a postage stamp to honor Diwali, the “festival of lights.
“Diwali is an important spiritual and cultural festival along with other major religious holidays for which stamps are issued, such as Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Eid, and it merits similar recognition,” said Maloney.
“Diwali – which literally translated means ‘row of lights’ – is a festive and important Indian holiday that also signals the start of the Hindu New Year,” she added. “As one of the world’s oldest religious holidays, it serves not only as a time for celebration, but also as an occasion for communities and families to convene in spiritual enlightenment. The practice of Diwali has survived political, economic and social changes throughout history, while always carrying the universal symbolism of the victory of light, goodness, knowledge and truth.”
In her remarks, Meng said: “The Postal Service has issued stamps for several major religious holidays and now it’s time for them to do the same for Diwali. Creating a Diwali stamp would be an outstanding way to recognize and celebrate the vibrancy of the Hindu American and Indian American communities, and salute the traditions and tremendous contributions that they’ve made to our nation. Diwali deserves its own stamp, and I’m pleased to join my Congressional colleagues in urging the Postal Service to create one.”
Congressman Steve Israel echoed the sentiments of his fellow New Yorkers, saying “I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution urging the Postal Service to issue a stamp that would recognize the festival of Diwali, commonly known as the ‘festival of lights.’ The holiday embodies the essential lessons of good triumphing over evil and embracing one’s inner light. I join my colleagues to call on the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee to give Diwali the recognition it deserves and issue a commemorative stamp.”
Indian American Congressman Ami Bera, in a statement, said: “Diwali is one of the world’s oldest religious holidays. It celebrates goodness and truth and is observed by people from different backgrounds all across the United States and around the world. We should honor its place in our country’s tradition of religious diversity with a postage stamp, as we have done for many other religious holidays. ”
Diwali traditionally marks the last harvest of the year before winter and over time has come to also mark the first day of the new financial year in India. This “festival of lights” marks the triumph of good over evil, light above darkness, and insight and knowledge over ignorance and disregard. Diwali is celebrated by adherents of many faiths across the world.
Maloney introduced House Resolution 47 on January 25th of this year to urge the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, an entity of the United States Postal Service, to issue a commemorative stamp in honor of Diwali. The bi-partisan and bi-coastal resolution is co-sponsored by Bera (CA-07), Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, (HI-02), and by several members of the New York Congressional Delegation including Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Joe Crowley (NY-14), Rep. Steve Israel (NY-03) and Rep. Peter King (NY-02).