US Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney, who represents New York’s 12th district Manhattan/Queens/Brooklyn, and who had led an relentless campaign to get the Diwali commemoration stamp approved by the authorities, said that following the release, there had been a frenzied buying of the stamp with over 100,000 stamps being sold in just a couple of hours.
The formal release of the stamp, held amid an elaborate flag-bearing ceremony by US postal representatives and the singing of national anthems of both the US and India, was held at the spacious banquet hall of the Indian consulate-general in New York with a huge turnout of both Indians and Americans, many of whom had taken a day off from their work to be present at the occasion.
A giant-size replica of the Diwali stamp, showing the traditional “Diya” or the lit oil-lamp, was unveiled by Maloney and other prominent guests who had gathered at the consulate.
In an interview with Bernama at the Indian consulate in New York, Congresswoman Maloney said that Indian community in the US “is large and still growing, and has been incredibly successful”.
“It is a highly accomplished and well-educated community, and this is also reflected in its growing political clout.”
She referred to the political ambitions of Indians in the US from whom the nation could draw future leaders.
She said that she had been pushing for the release of the Diwali stamp for seven years, and paid special tribute to a number of Indian community leaders who had, despite the challenges faced by them, espoused the cause of the release of the stamp.
She mentioned, in particular, the names of Ravi and Ranju Batra, the husband-wife duo who took upon themselves the arduous – and thankless – task of getting the stamp approved and released.
The stamp had been approved a few weeks back but was released today officially for commercial use.
Maloney also praised the Indian consul-general, Riva Ganguly Das, for her support and for offering the consulate’s premises for the formal release of the postal stamp.
“Diwali has come early for all of us … it has already arrived today, Oct 5,” she declared, and extended her “special thanks” to the USPS, Postmaster-General Megan Brennan and millions of Americans who celebrate the Festival of Lights.
Also known as Deepavali, Diwali is also widely celebrated outside India, including in several Asian countries, Mauritius, Fiji and Guyana.
In 2016, the main day of the festival will be celebrated on Oct 29 for South Indians and Oct 30 for North Indians.