Divali, USA

The first ever White House Divali celebrations were held in 2003.  Since then Hinduism and Divali have received a psychological boost within the USA officialdom. In 2004 there was an active petition drive to obtain a Divali stamp issued by the US Postal Service.  Organised by American Hindus this petition required 500,000 signatures and is generally indicative of acceptance of Hinduism into mainstream America. In New York, Divali is finding its way to be celebrated in the streets and shops slowly as it finds its way into American culture. Twenty years ago, 74th Street in Jackson Heights featured only a few Indian-owned shops. Today this same street has over 200 businesses that are Indian. For the sixth year in a row, the Hindu community has decorated the street with full fanfare to celebrate the Hindu festival of Deepavali. The merchants plan on  leaving the lights up on every arbour even after Deepavali ends on  November 17. Shiv Das, president of the Jackson Heights Merchants’  Association, says, “This is a way of saying ‘thank you.’ You have Jewish  customers, Muslim customers, Christian customers, we want to keep  everybody happy, and the street looks good.”

Attendance in Little India  exceeded expectations; as over 20,000 people attended the street  celebration this year. R Radhakrishan, president of the Federation of  Indian Associations, comments, “It is very large compared to what it  was 20 years ago. They appreciate our culture.” The article explains,  “Over the past two decades, the borough’s Indian community has achieved  increasing notoriety, and their success has transformed 74th Street. In  July, the street was renamed Kalpana Chawla Way to honour Chawla, one of  seven astronauts to die in the ill-fated Columbia shuttle mission and  the first Indian American in space. And the street recently has become  the focus of a Pratt University study aimed at weaving the area more  firmly into Queens’ tourist and cultural offerings.” Police officer  Ravi Malhotra, the son of Indian immigrants from Delhi, says, “It’s 
absolutely amazing. This is the sixth year they’ve done this.” US  Rep Anthony Weiner (D-Kew Gardens), one of Queens politicians, says,  “Even Jewish kids from Brooklyn are Hindus today.” Congressman Joseph  Crowley adds, “I promise before my time is done in Washington, we will  have a stamp honouring Deepavali in the United States.”

This acceptance could best be further shown with the 2004 resolution recognising the historical and cultural significance of the Hindu festival of Divali that was submitted to the United States House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform, on October 5, 2004.  House Resolution 816 was introduced by Rep Joseph Crowley (D,NY), Democratic Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, and was authored with assistance from the Hindu American Foundation (HAF).  HAF is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organisation not aligned or affiliated with any political entity, party or organisation. “I am pleased to have introduced this resolution recognising Divali,” said Crowley as he introduced the first resolution recognising a festival of religious significance to most Indian Americans.  “Divali is an important day for Indian Americans and Indians around the world and I am proud to be the sponsor of this resolution,” Crowley continued. The resolution explains that Divali, a variation of the Sanskrit word Deepavali, refers to the rows of earthen lamps celebrants place around their homes. 

Hindus believe that the light from these lamps symbolises illumination within the individual that overwhelms ignorance, represented by darkness.  In addition to the spiritual significance the day holds for Hindus, the resolution also explains the importance of the day to Sikhs and Jains.  Sikhs celebrate the release of the Sixth Guru, Hargobind, from captivity by the Mughal Emperor Jehangir and Jains commemorate Divali as the day Lord Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras, attained Nirvana, or liberation, after his death in 527 BC. “Divali is of immense significance to Hindu Americans, and this resolution introduced by Crowley captures the essence of its spiritual and historical importance to Hindus, Jains and Sikhs,” said Aseem Shukla, MD, member of the HAF board of directors. The Hindu American Foundation, which hosted a reception on Capitol Hill, and met with several congressmen to discuss issues of concern to Hindu Americans, approached contacts made during those visits to consider official congressional recognition of Divali.  With official assent, HAF proceeded to provide a draft of such a resolution.  “When the co-chairs of the India caucus, Reps Crowley and Wilson, agreed to work with HAF to finalise a resolution on Divali, we quickly grasped this unique opportunity to garner official recognition for this most widely celebrated festival.  We have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with many congressional offices, and we hope to utilise these contacts to gain widespread support for this resolution,” said Sheetal Shah, coordinator of the HAF Government Interaction Project.

The resolution effort was the latest in a series of actions by HAF to fulfil stated goals to a further understanding of Hinduism and promote the religion’s tenets of tolerance and pluralism.  Mihir Meghani, MD, president of HAF, explained that the resolution was aimed at promoting awareness of the growing Hindu American community and imparting an official recognition to one of their most important festivals.  “This will not only be the first time Hindus and all Indian Americans are felicitated on Divali, but in a sense, this resolution is a first step in bringing Divali into our nation’s mainstream.” said Meghani,  “Congressman Crowley has once again demonstrated his sincere commitment to Hindu American issues by introducing this resolution,” Dr Meghani added.