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NYC Mayor Eric Adams announces 5 Borough Diwali tour
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and the Mayor will continue to host the celebrations in different parts of NYC as part of the first ever 5 Borough Diwali Tour
Diwali reception at Gracie Mansion hosted by NYC Mayor Eric Adams / NYC Mayor's Office
New York City Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the significance of Diwali as a symbol of dispelling darkness and welcoming light during the annual Diwali celebration held at his New York residence, Gracie Mansion. The celebration was the first of others palnned as part of the inaugural 5 Borough Diwali Tour hosted by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and the Mayor in NYC.
“Diwali is more than just a holiday. It is a reminder to all of us that we must push away the darkness wherever we see it and bring light. That is what the Festival of Lights is about,” Adams said urging individuals to embody the spirit of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and Mahatma Gandhi, and to strive for a brighter and more compassionate world amidst the prevailing darkness and the tragic loss of innocent lives.
In his speech at the annual event, which was attended by many influential members of the Indian-American and South Asian communities, as well as representatives from other diasporas and the government, Adams said that Diwali is about more than just lighting candles or oil lamps; it is about "lighting up our lives."
“There is so much darkness that we are seeing every day. So if we truly believe in the life of Ramayana, if we truly believe in the life of Sita, if we truly believe in the life of Gandhi, then we must continue Gandhi’s steps. We cannot only be worshippers; we must be practitioners,” he said.
New York State Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, who was instrumental in establishing Diwali as a school holiday in New York City, expressed that the Indian-American community has reached a level of influence and strength like never before. “We are unstoppable, and we have arrived at the table of power in this state,” she said.
She further emphasized that, especially given the turmoil in various parts of the world and the rising intolerance and prejudice against different communities, the Indian-American community has a unique opportunity to lead the way toward peace and harmony.
Dr. Vasundhara Kalasapudi, Indo-American Arts Council chairman Dr. Nirmal Mattoo, Dr. Hari Shukla, Musician Ustad Kamal Sabri, and Grammy nominee Chandrika Tandon, were presented citations by the Mayor’s office at the event in recognition of their various achievements and service to the community.
After the Mayor's reception at Gracie Mansion, the celebrations will continue with events in various locations, including Times Square on October 28, Vishnu Mandir on November 4, ISKCON New York City - Hare Krishna Center on November 12, Staten Island Hindu Temple on the same day, and the final event at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on November 13.
Happy Diwali!
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) October 18, 2023
This year's Festival of Lights is a special one after we officially added Diwali to the list of public school holidays.
And last night we kicked off our Diwali celebrations by welcoming our Hindu New Yorkers to the People's House. We are stronger together! pic.twitter.com/pJ721Y38Og
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