US postal department rollout of new postal stamp commemorating Diwali

Washington August 24The United States postal service on Tuesday announced the rollout of a new postal stamp and it’s one that’s going to cheer all Indians. Commemorating Diwali, the stamp has a photo of an oil lamp with a cotton wick, traditionally lit everywhere to celebrate the festival, on a golden glitter background.

The postage stamp, which will be officially launched at a ceremony held by the Consulate General of India in New York on October 5 this year, is being issued as a Forever stamp in the US. This Forever stamp will also be equal in value to the current First Class Mail 1-ounce (Re 1) price. The stamp commemorating Diwali would certainly bolster the spirits of the 3.4 million-strong Indian American community in the US, one of the largest and fastest growing ethnic-groups in that country.

The photograph used for the stamp was taken by Sally Andersen-Bruce and it was designed by Greg Breeding, according to a national release on the website of the US Postal Service.

The stamp was designed based on public suggestions. The US Postal Service receives approximately 40,000 suggestions for stamp ideas annually from the public. Stamp subjects are then reviewed by a committee who choose approximately 25 topic suggestions for commemorative stamps, for the Postmater General’s approval.

Diwali, which is fondly celebrated by Indians across the globe to mark the triumph of good over evil, is also celebrated in the White House every year. This year the festival will be celebrated on October 30.