ROCKVILLE, Md. (Diya TV) — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller celebrated Diwali, the “Festival of Lights,” in a festive manner with the Indian American and South Asian community.
Lt. Gov. Miller mentioned she had spent most of her childhood in St. Louis, Missouri and celebrated Diwali in private, closed-door gatherings. “The light has now spread from individual households to State Houses to the White House,” she said, highlighting the increasing strength of Indian culture in the U.S. She celebrated the diversity within Maryland’s government, with the Moore-Miller administration boasting the highest number of Asian American cabinet members in the nation.
Gov. Moore praised Miller’s leadership, calling her a “blessing” to Maryland. He mused on the meaning of Diwali, stating that it commemorates the light within everyone. “It’s not asking us to seek the light; it’s asking us to unearth the light that’s already within us,” he said. Moore also issued a proclamation declaring November 12 as Diwali in Maryland, calling on Marylanders to commemorate the festival’s themes of light overpowering darkness and knowledge besting ignorance.
The celebration included speeches by community leaders, such as Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, who spoke about values of charity and service during Diwali. Others honored were Jesse Singh, Chair of the Governor’s Commission on South Asian American Affairs, for his contributions to the community.
