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Transcript: Mayor Adams Hosts Reception Celebrating Diwali

October 16, 2025

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Namaste. And this is such an important event. We have many events here at Gracie Mansion celebrating the culture, the diversity, the richness, and the contributions that many communities offer to the City of New York. And this community, our Indian community, really personifies how you give back to this city. 

When you look at what you do in the medical profession, you were there during COVID to ensure that family members from the entire city received the care that they deserve. You were there during technology. Some of our leading technological advancement is coming out of not only India, but it's coming out of the community that's here. And when I appointed Dr. Vasan, one of the first to lead the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, we saw the contributions. And then we did something that no other mayor was able to do. 

We appointed the first Indian American to be a deputy mayor here in the City of New York. And she led the most extensive portfolio on how we dealt with the infrastructure of our city. But out of all those things, being mayor is both substantive, as I always say, and symbolic. The symbolism of turning Diwali into a state holiday is so significant. 

It stated that we acknowledge the festival of light. We understand that there's far too much darkness in our city and in our country and on our globe. And Diwali gives us an opportunity to state; how do we celebrate each other? How do we ensure that we lift each other up in the spirit of Gandhi? When I was in India, at Gandhi's home, where he was slain, I always talk about looking in the pavement and seeing his last footprints before the assassin took his life. I think about our obligation and responsibility to continue those steps. 

We may have lost Gandhi physically, but the emotional and spiritual journey that we are all responsible for, to continue the spirit in which Gandhi lived, we must ensure those steps continue not only in India, but also here in America in general, but specifically in the City of New York. 

When you look at Diwali, you understand how our Hindu, our South Asian and Indo-Caribbean neighbors can celebrate a holiday that means so much to them. On the campaign trail, I heard it often, Eric, we would love to have Diwali be a holiday. And we have to take our hat off in her absence to Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar for her pursuit. And many of you joined her in Albany to fight to ensure that we got Diwali as a holiday. 

So I'm excited here in the spirit of Rama. And in the closeness of Sita. That is a symbol of love and commitment and devotion. And it is why we know that as long as we work together, we will lift this beautiful city up to the level that is deserved. And I want to thank all of my consul generals and dignitaries who are here for coming out and celebrating with us as we celebrate Diwali. 

Tonight, we're going to honor those from your community. And before we do so, I believe we're going to make sure that— let me make sure I have my order correctly. We're going to light the diya before we start. And then we're going to honor those who are there. Thank you for what you have done for the City of New York and for our entire country. Thank you so much. 

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