US postal service honours Diwali with a 'Forever Stamp'

October 04, 2016 21:33

The US Postal Service will commemorate the joyous Hindu festival of Diwali with a Forever stamp.

Wednesday shall be the first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony will take place at the Consulate General of India, New York.

The stamp design is a photograph featuring a traditional diya oil lamp beautifully lit, sitting on a sparkling gold background. Diya lamps are usually made from clay with cotton wicks dipped in a clarified butter known as ghee or in vegetable oils.

Also known as Deepavali, Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Spanning five days each autumn, it is considered by some to be the start of the new year.

On the Hindu calendar, Diwali falls on the eve of, or on, the new moon that occurs between mid-October and mid-November. In 2016, the main day of the festival will be celebrated Oct. 29 for South Indians and Oct 30 for North Indians.

Diwali is a shortened version of the Sanskrit word Deepavali, which roughly translates as a necklace of lights. During Diwali, the flickering oil-wick diyas sprinkle the homes of observers around the world.

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