Maryland Governor and Lt. Governor celebrate Diwali with community

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Rockville, Maryland: The Maryland Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, and the Governor’s Commission on South Asian American Affairs hosted the 2023 Diwali “Festival of Lights” Celebration on November 13, 2023, at the Universities at Shady Grove.

Kicking off her speech with “Happy Diwali,” Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, Aruna Miller recalled, “I remember growing up when I was younger in St. Louis, Missouri back in the 70s, and back then there weren’t a lot of Indian-American families. So, we got together, a few of us, and went and lit [a] Diya in each other’s homes. That light has now spread from individual households to State Houses, to the White House.”

“And this is symbolic that the Indian-American culture adds to the fabric of the American tapestry in our country and in the great State of Maryland,” Miller said, while highlighting the diversity in the Moore-Miller administration with six Asian American cabinet members, the largest of any administration in the continental United States of America.

Recognizing Maryland Secretary of State, Susan Lee, Acting Secretary for Higher Education, Sanjay Rai, and Secretary of Department of General Services, Atif Chaudhry in the audience Miller added, “So the diverse representation in our cabinet at large is reflective of the strength and the diversity of Maryland, where there is no place for antisemitism, there is no place for Islamophobia, there is no place for Hinduphobia, or any hate against our brothers and sisters of any faith.”

She also credited Matthew Verghese, Director of the Maryland’s Federal Relations Office in Washington DC, for playing a key role in Maryland being selected as the relocation site for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Miller continued, “Let me tell you, we had a 20 per cent chance that we were going to even get it in Maryland. So, what happened after that? It was the leadership of Governor Moore that brought all the players together our congressional leaders, our state leaders, our local leaders,” that made a strong case that Maryland is the best location for FBI.

Governor of Maryland, Wes Moore referring to Miller said, “You are a blessing to all of us, you make us all better, you make us all strive to be better.”

“I’m so proud of the fact that we are having this Diwali celebration with not just the first immigrant ever elected to statewide office in the history of the state of Maryland, but also we are having Diwali celebrations with an Indian-American Lieutenant Governor at that helm of the State of Maryland,” Moore said amidst loud cheering from the guests. “I think about Aruna and what she means to this state. She’s someone who reminds us every single day that anything is possible. She’s someone who reminds us every single day that love will win, and love will conquer, and it conquers overall.”

Calling it a “true joy” to be celebrating Diwali with friends, Moore recalled, “For so many in this room, you saw us first, you lifted us up, you prayed for us, you gave us protection, [and] you gave us light,” adding “I could not think of a more appropriate place to be able to celebrate Diwali than with all of you.”

Moore went on to say Diwali, is a celebration of the festival of lights while adding “But the thing about it is to find the light, we don’t have to look externally. It’s the light within us, it’s the light that we already possess, [and] it’s the light that God blessed each and every one of us with. What Diwali represents is it’s not asking us to seek the light, it’s asking us to unearth the light that’s already within us.”

Moore also presented a Proclamation declaring “November 12, 2023, as Diwali ‘Festival of Lights’ in Maryland” and urged Marylanders to join in the observance.

“I want to really reflect upon for what we call charitable giving or Dana, and selfless service or Seva” said Director of the White House National Drug Control Policy, Dr. Rahul Gupta, noting that all those present embody the importance of giving as well as service. Reminding everyone the importance of spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance, Gupta observed it is important to celebrate Diwali within the state, across the country, and around the world.

“Today we deal with things that are far beyond our control, both as a state but also as a nation. And as a world, sometimes you look at the conflicts that are happening across the world, and if you see the challenges, you see mental health, and social isolation for our children,” Gupta pointed out.

On the occasion, Miller awarded Chair of the South Asian Commission, Jesse Singh, with the Governor’s citation for his outstanding work over the years.

Others who spoke at the celebration included Dr. Sudhir Sekhsaria, and Gurpreet Takhar from the Diwali Committee, Community Leader Dr. Suresh Gupta, Executive Director of The Universities at Shady Grove, Dr. Anne Khademian, Executive Director of Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, Rev. Larry Walker, and Administrative Director of the Governor’s Commission on South Asian American Affairs, and Christina Poy.