Governor McKee Joins FIA–New England Diwali Celebration at Rhode Island State House

GG News Bureau
Rhode Island, 22nd Oct: The Foundation of Indian-Americans (FIA) – New England hosted its annual Diwali celebration at the historic Rhode Island State House, with Governor Daniel McKee gracing the event as Chief Guest. The ceremony began with a traditional lamp-lighting, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness.

Addressing the gathering, Governor McKee extended Diwali greetings and commended the Indian-American community for its consistent commitment to service. He highlighted the critical role of community-driven initiatives like FIA’s food donation drives, especially in light of potential government shutdowns that could impact programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“If benefits are denied and programs like SNAP are impacted, it is community efforts like FIA’s food donation drives that will become lifelines for the needy. I urge everyone to double down on service and compassion,” said Governor McKee.

The Governor officially launched FIA’s Diwali/Holiday Season Food Drive, aiming to donate over 20,000 pounds of non-perishable food items across Rhode Island and the New England region within a month.

Honoring Indian-American Achievements

Governor McKee recognized two distinguished members of the Indian-American community:

• Subrata Das – for over two decades of contributions to performance art and theater.
• Mohan Nannapaneni – for exceptional humanitarian service locally and globally.

Additionally, FIA’s Executive Team, led by President Abhishek Singh, received a special citation for their year-round volunteer initiatives, including blood and food drives, highway clean-ups, consular camps, and cultural events such as India Day and Yoga Day.

FIA President Highlights Unity and Reflection

FIA President Abhishek Singh urged the community to embrace Diwali’s deeper significance:

“It is a time for reflection, gratitude, and spreading the warmth of our love and kindness,” he said.

Cultural Highlights

The celebration featured a vibrant cultural program, including classical and contemporary Indian dance performances by Maharshi Kondvilkar, Kalakaar Indian Classical Performing Arts, and Padmini Dance Academy. The event began with the Indian and American national anthems performed by Sonali Doshi and Mitesh Soni.

FIA’s Ongoing Commitment

In their vote of thanks, FIA Vice President Rakesh Kumar and Secretary Amol emphasized the organization’s mission of service and reaffirmed plans to donate 20,000 pounds of food to support families in Rhode Island and the wider New England region.

“Service is the true spirit of Diwali, and we are determined to spread that light to every corner of our community,” said Rakesh Kumar.

FIA-New England continues to promote cultural heritage, volunteerism, and civic participation, uniting Indian-Americans throughout the region.