New Delhi :Around 1,200 people from across the US, including powerful lawmakers, diplomats and eminent Indian-Americans are set to attend the largest-ever Diwali celebrations at the US Capitol.
Organised by Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, the third-annual Diwali event at the US Capitol is being joined by top community organisations from across the nation.
“The third annual event will bring lawmakers, advocates, and organisations together from all over the country to recognise the contributions the South Asian community has made in business, technology, health care, the arts, and much more,” said a statement issued by office of Congressman Ami Bera.
Bera, the only Indian-American lawmaker in the current Congress, is Co-Chair of Congressional Caucus along with Congressman George Holding.
The event scheduled to be held tomorrow in the historic Jefferson Hall of the US Library of Congress, is expected to be attended by around 50 Senators and members of US House of Representatives.
“We have also invited Ambassadors of all the countries which have sizeable presence of Indian Diaspora,” said M Rangaswami, Silicon Valley-based investor, entrepreneur, community builder and philanthropist.
The event would also be used as an occasion to galvanise the community towards the issuing of a postal stamp by US Postal Service, said Rangaswami who for the past one year has launched a campaign in this regard.
So far 10,000 people have written letters to the US Postal Service, urging it to issue a postal stamp for Diwali.
Around top 100 Indian-American organizations would sign a petition in this regard tomorrow.
The Congressional Diwali celebrations was started by Congressman Joe Crowley in 2013.
“This meaningful festival is about the pursuit of light over darkness, good over evil. It is a time for reflection and renewal, and it is a time for peace. As people from many backgrounds come together to celebrate Diwali, let us all be reminded of the important message of compassion and community,” he said.
PTI