U. S. Congressman Danny K Davis of Chicago, Illinois hosted a Congressional reception to Celebrate India’s oldest and largest festival- Diwali on November 3 evening at the National Democratic Club, Washington D.C.
U. S. 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, Indian American Community Leader 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 U. S. President to celebrate Diwali in the White House in 2009, and thereafter all Presidents annually celebrated Diwali.
Dr Vijay G Prabhakar said that the White House not celebrating Diwali this year 2021 had triggered them to organize official celebrations for the first time with the U. S. House Speaker, the State of Illinois House Speaker, the City of Chicago Council and Cook County Treasurer’s office to showcase India’s heritage during this festival season.
Neil Khot, National Chairman, Indian American Business Coalition praised the inspiring leadership of Dr Vijay G Prabhakar, President, American Multi-Ethnic Coalition and President, Indian American Business Coalition, USA for facilitating this historic event at Washington D. C. and for also organizing Diwali celebrations in City of Chicago Council, Cook County Treasurer’s Office and The State of Illinois government for the first time in 184 years.
Kishor Mehta, Emeritus Chair, Congressman Danny Davis’s Multi-Ethnic Advisory Task Force thanked U. S. Congressman 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.
Anica Dubey, Global Outreach Chair, American Multi-Ethnic Coalition said that this year 2021, Washington D. C.’s Diwali celebrations is truly a triumph of good over evil.
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 Indrani Davaluri gave a traditional welcome to U. S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chairman, U. S. House Ways and Means Committee Congressmen Richard Neal at the Diwali celebrations in Washington D. C.
Lion Hina Trivedi, Founder, Chicago Indo U. S. Lions Club thanked the over hundred guests who attended the celebrations and singled out Tumia Romero, Chief of Staff of Congressman Danny Davis for hosting this historic celebration at the National Democratic Club at Washington D. C.
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 are facilitating 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.