US Postal Service Prints 20 Million New Diwali Stamps Following Indian American Community Advocacy

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service has produced 20 million copies of its new Diwali Forever stamp, citing strong advocacy from the Indian American community and expectations of high demand for the second U.S. postage stamp commemorating the festival of lights.

The new stamp, featuring a colorful traditional rangoli design, was unveiled Wednesday at the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C., during a ceremony attended by postal officials, diplomats and members of the Indian American community.

Sahibani Gambhir, a vice president at the U.S. Postal Service, said the agency decided to produce a larger quantity of the stamps because of the enthusiasm surrounding the release.

“There was so much advocacy on behalf of the Indian community to create a second stamp. And we just knew that this one was gonna be super popular like the first one, and hence we printed a little bit higher quantities for folks to enjoy,” Gambhir said during the ceremony.

The latest release follows the USPS’s first Diwali stamp, issued in 2016, which generated considerable interest among Indian Americans and stamp collectors.

“The first stamp was wildly popular among the Indian community. We sold so many millions and millions of stamps,” Gambhir said.

“We have printed 20 million Rangoli stamps, and we’re very excited for the Indian community to enjoy these,” she added.

Gambhir served as the dedicating official at the ceremonial unveiling and reception, which highlighted the growing recognition of Indian cultural traditions in the United States.

Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra praised the contribution of Indian Americans to strengthening ties between the two countries.

He said Diwali celebrations reflect the experiences of “the millions of Indian Americans who call this country their home, students, professionals, the artists, families”.

Indian Americans “are the ones who connect to society and hence become what we call as the living bridge of our relationship” between India and the United States, Kwatra said.

The ambassador described the stamp’s release as an important symbol of cultural exchange and recognition of the Indian American community.

He said the occasion offered an opportunity “for us to celebrate our cultural strengths, our cultural heritage with the Indian American diaspora and with the larger US society here.”

“This stamp is one of the important threads in our celebration as we go forward into the Diwali festive season,” Kwatra added.

The stamp features an intricate rangoli created by Houston-based artist Sangita Bhutada, whose design incorporates vibrant colors against a purple background.

Rangoli is a traditional Indian decorative art form commonly displayed during Diwali and other celebrations, often using colored powders, sand or flower petals to create elaborate patterns.

Bhutada, who has been creating rangoli artwork for nearly three decades, used starch-based colored powder and colored sand to produce the design featured on the stamp.

She said the project began when USPS contacted her by email to ask whether she would be interested in creating artwork for a postage stamp.

After signing an agreement, Bhutada submitted several design sketches before creating the rangoli patterns on the floor using different colors.

Photographer Bijay Dixit was subsequently commissioned to photograph the finished artwork for the stamp.

Bhutada said she deliberately selected bright shades, including red and orange, because of their cultural significance during Diwali celebrations.

Jennifer Arnold designed the final postage stamp, while William J. Gicker served as art director for the project, according to USPS.

The new Diwali stamp is being sold in sheets of 20 at post offices nationwide and through the Postal Service’s website.

As a Forever stamp, it remains valid for mailing a standard one-ounce First-Class Mail letter regardless of future increases in postage rates.

Diwali, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and other communities around the world, symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

The main Diwali celebration this year falls on Sunday, November 8, according to Kwatra.

The latest USPS release represents another milestone in the recognition of Indian cultural traditions in the United States, a decade after the Postal Service introduced its first Diwali commemorative stamp. (Source: IANS)