More Diwali celebrations in America

Oct 27, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
While Diwali celebration may be over in Guyana, in the US, the celebrations continues with a Diwali Yatra and cultural variety concert in West Palm Beach by organizers of Guyanese descent on Saturday.
In Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry celebrated Diwali with the Indian American community on October 23 at the US State Department for the first time. He told attendees that “Diwali is a time for the revitalization of mind and spirit”. He added: “It affords a chance to reflect on how we can bring light to others. It is an opportunity for us all, regardless of our own traditions, to renew a shared commitment to human dignity, compassion, and service — and it is a commitment, I think, at the heart of all great faiths”.
A report on the event said Kerry was joined by Indian Ambassador S. Jaishankar who stated: ”As the days grow shorter, Diwali reminds us that spring always returns — that knowledge triumphs over ignorance, hope outlasts despair, and light replaces darkness”.
Some 300 guests, including a large number of eminent Indian Americans and envoys from other South Asian countries, were present to celebrate Diwali for the first time at the State Department’s historic Benjamin Franklin room, which was lit with many small diyas and candles.
Top Indian American officials working for President Obama, including Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal and USAID Administrator Raj Shah, attended the function. Kerry greeted guests with ‘Saal Mubarak.’ Kerry noted that Diwali was the only major world festival that had been missing from the State Department’s celebration of festivals.
“I want to thank all of you for joining us at the State Department’s first-ever Diwali celebration. I guarantee you it will not be our last” Kerry said amid loud applause.
President Barack Obama had also greeted the community with a ‘Happy Diwali’ to all those who were celebrating the festival of lights.
”America is a great and diverse nation, strengthened by the contributions of all our people. I was proud to host the first Diwali celebration at the White House back in 2009. Since then, we’ve continued to mark this holiday to honor the rich traditions that define the American family. And I know Michelle and I will never forget the wonderful time we had celebrating Diwali in Mumbai with food, dancing and the company of friends. So, to all the families gathering together this Diwali to reflect on all the blessings of the past year, I wish you a joyous celebration and Saal Mubarak.”
Kerry’s guests were served with the traditional Indian dishes — including sweet dishes like jalebi, gulab jamun, different varieties of burfi, kaju katli and kheer.
Some of the dishes were in fact made inside the State Department kitchen, while other dishes were procured from a popular Indian restaurant in Washington, DC.
It was also one of the rarest occasions that no alcohol was served. It was all soft drinks, juices and of course the traditional mango ‘lassi’.
Kerry praised the Indian American community. He is reported to have told the gathering that the Indian diaspora is a pillar of every aspect of American society sitting in the executive suites of some of the country’s most successful companies, or at the very helm of all of them. He added: “They launch startups and earn graduate degrees at several times the national average. They are a driving force behind American leadership and science and innovation and in the history of our nation – and we are a nation of immigrants – it is hard to find any group of Americans who have achieved more in such a relatively short period of time”.
Separately, it is reported that supermodel Naomi Campbell also observed Diwali by sporting a lovely sari at a handbag launch on Fridayi. She wished her friends and fans a happy Diwali. She tweeted: “Happy Diwali wishing you an amazing New Year on this special moon”. She surprised reporters and fans when she donned the black lace sari with red border.
The Trinidad Consulate will host Diwali on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the Guyana Consulate is not into hosting Diwali celebrations. The US Congress will host Diwali celebrations after the November 4 elections.
Vishnu Bisram

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