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AMERICANNewsline

12 NOVEMBER 11, 2022

New York City Mayor Eric Adams honors

GOPIO and four others at the Diwali

Celebration at the Gracie Mansion

OUR BUREAU

New York, NY
t a largely attended Diwa-
li Celebrations at the Gra-
Acie Mansion, New York City
Mayor Eric Adams honored Global
Organization of People of Indian Or-
igin (GOPIO), along with its Chair-
man Dr. Thomas Abraham, for its
work in community mobilization and
common good of the society in the
New York area. Other recognized are
Federation of Indian Associations of
NY, NJ, CT (FIA) Chairman Ankur
Vaidya, Indiaspora Founder M.R.
Rangaswamy, Grammy Award Win-
ner Falu Shah and Tulsi Mandir of
Richmond Hill Queens represented
by its priest Lakra Maharaj and Lion
Romeo Hitlall of the Indo-Caribbean
community.

This was the first Diwali Cele-

bration by Mayor Adams held
at the Gracie mansion on Octo-
ber 25th evening after assum- cluding NYS Senator Kevin Thomas a school holiday in New York City. paign trail as we went from location
and City Council Members Shekar I’ve been with you in that fight and to location, you said, Eric, we want
ing office as the mayor of the Krishnan, Amanda Farías and Linda for the first time, a New York City to be acknowledged by having a hol-
city. Over 1100 people attend- Lee. Others present with Mayor Ad- mayor has stepped forward to lift us iday. While children can not only
ams were his senior team members up and create the Diwali holiday.” take off to acknowledge Diwali,
ed the festive celebration with of Indian origin including Deputy Mayor Adams in his remarks but other children will have to now
Indian food, dances of India Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, has said that the Indian American ask the question, “What is Diwali?
Environmental Protection Commis- community is very important for What does it represent?” And we
and people dancing to the tune sioner Rohit T. Aggarwala, Health New York city. “I looked at during were faced with an awesome chal-
of Bollywood music. Commissioner Ashwin Vasan and the 70s when we saw such a large lenge. There were no more days in
Deputy Commissioner Dilip Chau- wave of those who came from India, the calendar and everyone stated it
han (Trade and Investment). moved to Queens, wanted to believe was not possible, however, we have
The program started with Assemblywoman Rajkumar said in American dream and you worked found a solution to make Diwali a
Mayor’s Chief Advisor Ingrid Lew- that Goddess Durga showered her hard and opened small businesses, holiday in the New York City School
is-Martin with a welcome saying blessings, and that was why she won. and you sent your children to school System in 2023,” Mayor Adams con-
that she was learning more and She further added that she followed to learn different skills so they can tinued.
more about Diwali and that people the teachings and focused like Arju- be deputy mayors and doctors and Mayor Adams further said,
from all over world have been cele- na on the Mahabharata, and that is leaders of agencies and help our “And finally, we have to live true
brating Diwali. She then introduced why I won. city move forward, fortifying the to what Diwali represents, since,
New York State Assemblywoman Rep, Rajkumar said, “For over strength of our city,” said Mayor there’s too much darkness engulf-
Jenifer Rajkumar, who introduced two decades, many of you in this Adams. ing in the desire to just find places
several other elected officials in- room have fought to make Diwali “And you asked me on the cam- Continued at next page... >>

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