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A Diwali stamp was launched here by the US postal service, capping seven-year-long efforts by Indian-Americans and influential American lawmakers to commemorate the festival of lights.<\/p>\n
The stamp was unveiled at the Indian Consulate at an elaborate \u201cfirst-day-of-issue\u201d dedication ceremony on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The US Postal Service (USPS) commemorated the Hindu festival of Diwali by dedicating the Diwali Forever stamp.<\/p>\n
The stamp shows a photo of a traditional \u2018diya\u2019 lit against a sparkling gold background and the words \u2018Forever USA 2016\u2019 written below.<\/p>\n
The ceremony was attended by Consul General Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Diwali Stamp Project Chair Ranju Batra, USPS Vice President for Mail Entry and Payment Technology Pritha Mehra, India\u2019s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri and eminent Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has taken many years of hard work and advocacy but light has finally triumphed. On Thursday, Diwali has received its long awaited commemorative stamp and rightfully joins the ranks of other major religious and cultural holidays such as Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Eid,\u201d Maloney said.<\/p>\n
Mehra said the postal service is \u201chonoured\u201d to issue the Forever stamp that celebrates the Festival of Diwali.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope these stamps will light up millions of cards and letters as they make their journey through the mailstream,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Das said she was \u201chonoured\u201d to be part of history as the USPS releases the Diwali Forever stamp.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow for the first time there is a stamp that celebrates Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists as Americans forever. The Diwali stamp will be a matter of pride for generations to come,\u201d Ranju Batra said.<\/p>\n
Ravi Batra said since the start of the American Revolution, \u201cdestiny has beckoned the US and India to be the closest allies\u201d and the Diwali stamp \u201crepresents nothing short of respectful inclusive indivisibility within America and between two sovereigns.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sally Andersen-Bruce of Connecticut photographed the diya and Greg Breeding of Virginia designed the stamp, with William Gicker of Washington serving as the project\u2019s art director.<\/p>\n
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By Indian express<\/strong><\/p>\n