New York City Comptroller Brad Lander hosts Diwali celebration

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New York City Comptroller Brad Lander hosted a Diwali celebration November 13 night, at Richi Rich Palace in Richmond Hill, Queens, drawing a packed crowd of elected officials, business leaders, advocacy organizations, and community members.

The event celebrated the “festival of lights” in the heart of New York City’s Indo-Caribbean and Punjabi Sikh communities, a press release from the Comptroller’s office said.

“At this moment of divisiveness, we should honor our communities’ traditions and celebrate our diversity now more than ever,” Comptroller Lander is quoted saying in the press release, adding, “Right here in New York City, the most culturally diverse city in the world, we’re going to let our Diwali lights shine so brightly that this whole gorgeous city, from Richmond Hill to the Bronx, will be illuminated for every single one of us to see.”

Amanpreet Singh, director of Human Resources for the Office of the New York City Comptroller, emceed the celebration and introduced Pandit Manoj Jadubans from Shaanti Bhavan Mandir, the first Hindu temple in the U.S. to publicly declare itself a sanctuary congregation, the press release said.

Priest Jadubans led the prayer and diya lighting ceremony alongside Comptroller Lander and Queens Assemblymembers David Weprin and Khaleel Anderson.

The celebration was co-sponsored by the Alliance of South Asian American Labor, India Home, and the South Asian Council for Social Services, and hosted various Indo-Caribbean, Sikh, Indian, Nepali, and Bangladeshi organizations, including Adhikaar, Bricks and Mortals, and the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families. The evening also recognized the contributions of several honorees, including: Annetta Seecharran, Executive Director at Chhaya CDC; Padma Linkha Magar, the Co-Founder of  the Saral Nepali Language and Culture Center; The South Queens Women’s March; and UNITED SIKHS