On November 3 (Local Time), New York City celebrated Diwali with a fireworks show over the Hudson River. It was a part of three-day Diwali celebrations.
Glimpse of Diwali Fireworks over the Hudson River in New York City, a part of the three-day Diwali celebrations in the City.@IndianEmbassyUS @IndiainNewYork @USAAMB @SandhuTaranjitS pic.twitter.com/wg4rDoPy5N
— DD India (@DDIndialive) November 4, 2021
Notably, Carolyn Maloney, Congresswoman, New York, will introduce a bill in Washington to make Diwali a federal holiday on Wednesday. Congressman Ro Khanna, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and other advocates are co-sponsoring the bill along with Indian American community members Sanjeev Joshipura, Executive Director, Indiaspora. Maloney has been a long supporter of Indians living in the US.
If the bill gets approved, a holiday will be observed on Diwali in federal institutions. It will be the 12th federal holiday observed by the United States. Notably, there is a significant population in the US that celebrates Diwali. In the past, Maloney has successfully urged the US Postal service to approve and issue a commemorative stamp to honour Diwali. The stamp has been in circulation since 2016.
In a tweet, she said, “I am so excited to introduce my Deepavali Day Act which would enshrine Diwali as a federal holiday. Let’s celebrate light over darkness, the triumph of good over evil, and the pursuit of knowledge over ignorance during this special time of year!”
I am so excited to introduce my Deepavali Day Act which would enshrine Diwali as a federal holiday. Let’s celebrate light over darkness, the triumph of good over evil, and the pursuit of knowledge over ignorance during this special time of year!https://t.co/NOHU1mCcWc
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) November 4, 2021
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi also joined the press conference on the resolution to make Diwali a federal holiday.
Thank you to @RepMaloney for hosting a press conference today on your resolution to make Diwali a federal holiday, which I’m proud to cosponsor. The celebration of the triumph of light over darkness is especially important during this pandemic. pic.twitter.com/UJveSQC0nL
— Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) November 3, 2021
In a tweet, he thanked Maloney and said, “Thank you to Carolyn Maloney for hosting a press conference today on your resolution to make Diwali a federal holiday, which I’m proud to cosponsor. The celebration of the triumph of light over darkness is especially important during this pandemic.”
On Diwali, let us be the LIGHT we wish to see in the world. pic.twitter.com/0xhuMPbkJF
— Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) November 3, 2021
In his statement during the conference, he said, “On this Diwali be the light we wish to see in the world. Be the light in the community that is needed to dispel the darkness. Be the light in this community that brings hope to the hopeless. Let us be the light that helps the last, the least and the lost.”
