Page 28 - The Indian EYE 111221

NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | The Indian Eye 28

texas Governor’s Diwali party attracts

largest number of indian americans

Our Bureau

Austin, TX
lose to 100 Indian
Texans from Hous-
Cton, Dallas, San An-
tonio and Austin filled the
Governor’s Mansion Sat-
urday for Greg and Cecil-
ia Abbott’s annual Diwali
Party, which had the high-
est number of attendees
this year. Greg Abbott is
the first Governor to recog-
nize the Hindu Festival of
Lights and celebrate it with
the community-at-large.
This year, the Indian CEO
Council, co-founded by
Dallasites Arun Agarwal
and Sanjiv Yajnik, got in-
volved and helped balance
geographic representation
at the event.
“This Governor truly
realizes the many contri-
butions Indian Americans
have made to the Texas
economy,” said Agarwal,
who personally escorted
Greg and Cecilia Abbott
to India a few years ago to
meet business leaders and
Indian Prime Minister Na-
rendra Modi. “After their
time in India, both the
Governor and First Lady
have an appreciation for
Indian culture and our var-
ious religious holidays and
traditions.”
After greeting their
guests on Saturday, the
Governor and First Lady
lit the Diyas (lamps) to
commemorate the victo-
ry of light over darkness,
good over evil. A few In-
dians even bestowed the
First Family with tradition-
al gifts and sweets, typically
exchanged during the fes-
tive season.

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