Seattle: Diwali, a festival celebrated with immense enthusiasm in India, has now spread its glow to the United States. For the first time, governors of five Pacific Northwest states and more than 20 mayors hosted Diwali celebrations at state capitols and city halls. These celebrations commenced in mid-October and will continue until November 10, culminating in a final ceremony at the State Capitol in Salem.

🏛️ Governors Hail Indian-American Community

Idaho Governor Brad Little said, "The state of Idaho is proud to have a vibrant Indian community that contributes very much to our state through their businesses, professions, service, and civic involvement. Indian Americans help strengthen Idaho's economy and help our communities be better places to live, work and raise a family."

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen said, "The Indian community is an incredibly vital piece of who we are as the people of Nebraska. It's really important that you keep these traditions alive in your families. Never, ever, ever let the light go out!"

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong said, "We should celebrate these relationships. We should celebrate these friendships. Diversity is our strength. We're going to continue this relationship because it's a fantastic one—at an international level, at a trade level, at a state-to-state level, at a diplomatic level, but most importantly, at a human level."

Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson said, "We are proud to be home to one of the largest shares of Indian Americans in the country. During the previous decade, we had the fastest-growing Indian American population in the entire country, and we have seen this community contribute so much to our state."

🏙️ Celebrations Across 22 Cities

In Washington State's Greater Seattle area, home to nearly 200,000 Indian-Americans, 22 cities observed individual Diwali ceremonies inside their City Council Chambers, with mayors presiding over lamp-lighting ceremonies. These included Auburn, Everett, Marysville, Kirkland, Bellevue, Tukwila, Medina, Bothell, SeaTac, DuPont, Spokane, Issaquah, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Duvall, Tacoma, Mukilteo, and Kent.

📜 Official Recognition

Several states and city governments issued official proclamations recognizing Diwali as a festival "symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and the contributions of the Indian American community to the economic and cultural enrichment of their respective regions." In Washington State, the State Senate passed a bill in February this year recognizing Diwali (and Bandi Chhor Divas) as state observances, marking an important step towards official recognition.

The Consulate General of India in Seattle worked in close partnership with Indian-American community leadership to organize and co-host these large-scale Diwali ceremonies across six states and 22 cities.