India Post News Service
WASHINGTON DC: The U. S. Congressman Danny K Davis of Chicago, Illinois hosted a Congressional reception to Celebrate India’s oldest and one of the biggest festivals= Diwali – on November 3 evening at the National Democratic Club, Washington D.C.
The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lit the traditional Indian lamp to signify Diwali and headlined the event. Several prominent elected officials including Congressman Richard Neal, (D- Massachusetts), Chair, U. S. House Ways & Means Committee among others joined the historic celebrations.
Dr Vijay G Prabhakar, aprominent Indian American Community activist from Chicago said that this Diwali celebration with the participation of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the third-highest elected official of USA, was significant because for the first time since 2009 Diwali was NOT being celebrated in the White House. President Obama was the first President to celebrate Diwali in the White House in 2009, and thereafter all Presidents annually celebrated Diwali.
Kishor Mehta, Emeritus Chair, Congressman Danny Davis’s Multi-Ethnic Advisory Task Force thanked Danny Davis, who was the only Congressman from Midwest who welcomed India’s Prime Minister Modi to the United States in New York 2014 and in Houston in 2019, for hosting the Diwali Celebration. Mehta added that Congressman Davis has been an ardent supporter of strong US- India ties especially recalling his pioneering efforts during the Covid pandemic.
Dr Sreenivas Reddy, Member, National Council on White House History said that Indian American leaders have participated in this celebration to usher in a spirit of prosperity and peace with the Biden Harris administration and strengthen U.S. -Indo ties.
Community Activist and Renowned Bharat Natyam Dance exponent IndraniDavaluri gave a traditional welcome to the Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee Rep Richard Neal at the Diwali celebrations in Washington DC.
Indian American Business Coalition, USA, American Multi-Ethnic Coalition, – AMEC, World Federation of Tamil Youth, Chicago Indo- U. S. Lions Club, and the Congressional Multi-Ethnic Advisory Task Force- MEATF hosted similar Diwali celebrations for the first time ever at Chicago City Council on November 4, Cook County Treasurer’s Office on November 5 and the State of Illinois House Speaker’s office the week of November 8, 2021.
For more information: Anica DubeyAMEC Global Outreach Chair630 6705839 amec.2022@yahoo.com
