US Capitol lights up for first Diwali festival
31 Oct 2013 5:39 AM IST
The first ever Diwali festival was celebrated at the US Congress on Wednesday amidst chanting of Vedic mantras by a Hindu priest. Over two dozen influential lawmakers along with eminent Indian-Americans gathered at the Capitol Hill to lit the traditional ‘diyas’.
The event – the first of its kind event at the Capitol Hill – was organised by the two co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Congressmen Joe Crowley and Peter Roskam in recognition of increasing presence of the Indian-American community. The occasion was also used to highlight significance of India-US relationship.
‘I have come here to say Happy Diwali,’ said Nancy Pelosi, Leader of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives.
‘United States owes a great debt of gratitude to India. Because our civil rights movement was built on the non-violent movement in India. Martin Luther King studied there, spoke there. We are blessed not only by that legacy, but also by the presence of so many Indo-Americans in our country,’ Pelosi said. ‘This is a truly historic event,’ Crowley said.
The event – the first of its kind event at the Capitol Hill – was organised by the two co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Congressmen Joe Crowley and Peter Roskam in recognition of increasing presence of the Indian-American community. The occasion was also used to highlight significance of India-US relationship.
‘I have come here to say Happy Diwali,’ said Nancy Pelosi, Leader of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives.
‘United States owes a great debt of gratitude to India. Because our civil rights movement was built on the non-violent movement in India. Martin Luther King studied there, spoke there. We are blessed not only by that legacy, but also by the presence of so many Indo-Americans in our country,’ Pelosi said. ‘This is a truly historic event,’ Crowley said.
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