CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Massachusetts Indian community celebrated the Hindu holiday of Diwali in The Great Hall of the State House on Tuesday.
People gathered from all over the Commonwealth to celebrate the Festival of Lights through Indian food, music, dance and clothing.
India’s first Consulate General Raghuram S spoke at the event about how vibrant the Indian community of Massachusetts has become.
“The Indian community is the most vibrant of all I have seen,” he said. “They are from every walk of life, they're in every field contributing to the U.S. and to the great state of Massachusetts, we want to be part of the journey.”
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The Commissioner of Asian American and Pacific Islanders Affairs Rakashi Chand also spoke at the event, reminding people why the gather like this in the first place.
“Today the South Asian population in Massachusetts is thriving, one of the fastest growing in the state,” she said. “That’s why representation matters, that’s why we’re here, to celebrate Diwali, a festival that means so much to us and to ensure our voices are heard.”
The Indian community of Massachusetts is working to get legislative approval to male Diwali and official state holiday by next year.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Mike Macklin reports.