www.hinduamericanfoundation.org
TAMPA, FLORIDA, October 16, 2006: The Hindu American Foundation is making the public recognition of the Diwali festival a major focus of their work this year. HAF has worked with U.S. Congressmen to author House Resolution 548, a Bill recognizing Diwali. As a result of HAF’s Third Annual Government Outreach and Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., the Foundation educated Congressmen and their staff about Diwali and increased recognition of Hinduism in general. As part of HAF’s Diwali initiative, the Foundation asked prominent leaders in government, academia and interfaith organizations to send greetings for this important festival and religious day. The Foundation was able to obtain close to 30 messages and in the process increase awareness of Diwali and exposure to the Hindu American community. HAF encourages everyone to help educate politicians, interfaith leaders and journalists with the following message: “Diwali, a variation of the Sanskrit word Deepavali, refers to the rows of earthen lamps celebrants place around their homes. Hindus believe that the light from these lamps symbolizes illumination within the individual that overwhelms ignorance, represented by darkness. In addition to the spiritual significance the day holds for Hindus, the resolution also explains the importance of the day to Sikhs and Jains. Sikhs celebrate the release of the Sixth Guru, Hargobind, from captivity by the Mughal Emperor Jehangir and Jains commemorate Diwali as the day Lord Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras, attained Nirvana, or liberation, after his death in 527 B.C. This year Diwali is being celebrated on October 21.”