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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline OCTOBER 30, 2026 | The Indian Eye 14

Indian Ambassador Kwatra and USPS

unveil Diwali stamp featuring Rangoli

The rangoli for the stamp was created by artist Sangita Bhutada,

a native of India and longtime resident of the Houston area who has been a

practitioner of this ancient folk art for nearly 30 years

NEERAJ DHAR
Washington, DC

elebrating the victory of light
over darkness, the United
CStates Postal Service (USPS)
has officially issued its 2026 Diwali
Forever stamp. The new release fea-
tures a bright, traditional floor design
artfully decorated with diyas.
The 2026 Diwali Forever Stamp
was unveiled earlier in the day at the
Embassy of India in Washington, DC,
in the presence of the Ambassador of
India to the US, Vinay Kwatra.
Encouraging the public to em-
brace the spirit of the Festival of
Lights in their everyday correspon-
dence, the US Postal Service shared
the update on X, writing, “Celebrate
the Festival of Lights in style: with
the 2026 Diwali stamp, featuring a
vibrant rangoli. Diyas light the way
as we celebrate light over darkness.
Bring a little of that light to your mail
by ordering these stamps today” the USPS on this auspicious occasion “This rangoli stamp that is issued in panes of 20. The first one was is-
Indian Ambassador to the Unit- of upcoming Diwali next month, is by the United States Postal Service is sued in 2016.
ed States Vinay Mohan Kwatra and being released today,” he added. only the second stamp that’s been The rangoli for the stamp was
senior officials from the United Ambassador Kwatra under- issued. The first stamp was issued in created by artist Sangita Bhutada, a
States Postal Service (USPS) dedi- scored the deep cultural resonance 2016, and this is the second stamp. We native of India and longtime resident
cated the new stamp in Washington. of the release for both the Indian have printed 20 million stamps, and of the Houston area who has been a
The release marks only the second American community and broader we are very excited for all of the com- practitioner of this ancient folk art
time the US postal agency has issued American society. munity members—Indian American, for nearly 30 years.
a stamp commemorating the Festival “I understand that this is the sec- as well as stamp collectors, as well as Bhutada started by sketching out
of Lights, following its initial release ond time that this is happening. I be- philanthropists—to purchase one of a design on paper, then began careful-
a decade ago in 2016. lieve the last such stamp release was these stamps and share it with your ly sprinkling colored sand and starch-
Highlighting the long-standing done in 2016. Now, a decade later, community,” she said. based powder on the floor, using her
collaboration with the US Postal Ser- we celebrate another release of Di- Emphasising the partnership fingers and sometimes a regular kitch-
vice to bring the project to fruition, wali stamp. A very crucial thread, I with the Indian diplomatic mission, en strainer. She chose bright colours,
Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay would say, in a way, society in India Gambhir added, “We are excited to blue, orange, green and red, plus white.
Mohan Kwatra said, “This effort and the Indian American diaspora be able to dedicate this stamp to the The original work took eight to
by the Embassy to partner with the in the US and the larger US society Indian community and to the Indian 10 days, as opposed to the four to
United States Postal Service to have gets linked with the important cele- Embassy today. And this stamp real- six hours Bhutada normally spends
a stamp released on Diwali has been bration in the Indian civilizational ly represents a mix of both traditions on a rangoli, and was 8 feet in diam-
an effort long in the making.” heritage of Diwali,” he stated. and cultures, whether you’re Ameri- eter, so when it was photographed
“We attempted it last year; we Detailing the scale of the re- can Indian or Indian, and excited to it would come out properly in high
were slightly delayed in catching up lease, Shibani Gambhir, Senior Vice show the rangoli stamp. It’s a very resolution, she explained. Photog-
on the process, so we continued from President of Revenue Operations traditional symbol of Diwali and our rapher Bijay Dixit, also based in the
last year. And this year, this beauti- for the USPS, expressed excitement festival of lights.” Houston area, did the honours. The
ful pattern of rangoli made by San- about sharing the traditional symbol USPS stated that this is the sec- resulting image was then set against
geetha Bhutada-ji, and released by with communities across the country. ond Diwali stamp, which will be sold a brilliant purple background.

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