Press Release

Sacramento – Today, Congressman Ami Bera (CA-7), Co-Chair of the House Caucus on India and Indian Americans and currently the only Indian American serving in Congress, announced that the United States Postal Service will issue a Diwali Commemorative Stamp. Congressman Bera has pushed for a stamp since he came to Congress in 2013, leading the effort by co-sponsoring several resolutions, most recently H. Res. 32.

"I'm thrilled that the United States Postal Service has issued a stamp to celebrate Diwali,” said Congressman Bera. “Diwali is a celebration of goodness over evil observed by nearly a billion people around the world, including more than two million right here in the U.S. This stamp is long overdue, and I’m glad Diwali has the same acknowledgment as many other major religious holidays do with a commemorative stamp.”

As Co-Chair of the House Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Congressman Bera organized the largest Congressional Celebration of Diwali last November, with over 1,000 participants and more than 30 members of Congress. The annual celebration focuses on the accomplishments of the Indian American Diaspora in Washington, and highlights the contributions of the South Asian community in business, technology, health care, arts, academics, and much more.