Diwali celebrations abound in the US

Indian Americans across the country celebrated Diwali with much fervour this year, with the city of Los Angeles issuing a Diwali Day proclamation and the British Embassy organising a celebration on its premises.

The Los Angeles City Council in a proclamation declared November 6 as ‘Diwali Day’ commemorating the ‘festival of lights’ celebration.

“Diwali is both literally and figuratively a festival of lights, in that it celebrates the triumph of knowledge over ignorance as well as light over darkness,” Deputy British Ambassador to the US, Philip Barton, said during the Embassy’s annual Diwali celebration in Washington last week.

The British Embassy partnered with the Washington-based Hindu American Foundation for the event.

Diwali was celebrated in Sycamore Community Park by the Indian community with lots of enthusiasm, vigour, and fun.

The Diwali video message of US President, Barack Obama, greeting Americans was shown to the participants.

It was followed by the video of the first Hindu American Congresswomen-elect, Tulsi Gabbard greeting Americans on the occasion.

In Chicago, the Gujarati Samaj organised a gala Diwali Dinner with cultural extravaganza at India House Banquet.