Public Employee Press

Local 375 DOT chapter celebrates "Festival of Lights" holiday, Diwali

Members of Civil Service Tech Guild Local 375 joined millions of Hindus worldwide as they celebrated Diwali, a traditional holiday celebrated in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Trinidad and several other countries, where it is a legal holiday.

Diwali is one of the most important Hindu festivals of the year and marks the end of the harvest season when farmers show gratitude for their crops and pray for a good harvest in the coming year. Called the "Festival of Lights," Diwali lasts for five days and is shared by friends and family who enjoy homemade sweets and decorate their homes with colorful lights.

The local celebrated Diwali at its Nov. 15 membership meeting. Members from the Housing Authority joined in the agency's event Nov. 2, and the Dept. of Transportation Chapter marked the holiday Oct. 31. Kamlesh Patel, Vasant Kolala, Mitul Patel and other members helped organize the celebration, which featured a meal of traditional Indian cuisine.

"This celebration that we share with everyone here shows how diverse our union is and how respectful of different cultures DC 37 is," said DOT Chapter President Ahmed Shakir.