Public Employee Press

Local 375 members celebrate India’s Festival of Lights

Local 375 celebrated the Indian festival of Diwali Nov. 18 at its delegates meeting.

Hundreds of members enjoyed a traditional Indian meal and cultural presentation as they marked the Festival of Lights, which symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.

The traditional lamp lit at Diwali celebrations is a symbol of goodness, generosity and togetherness. As they lit the lamp, Diwali Committee Chair Hasmukh Modi and Local 375 President Claude Fort were accompanied by committee members, local leaders and the honored guest, Deputy Commissioner of the Dept. of Design and Contruction Vidnod Devgam, a former member.

“Remove the darkness of ignorance,” Modi said as he led a prayer. He appealed for solidarity among local members.

Devgam described the festival as an opportunity to reaffirm hope and friendship, and Fort noted that Diwali is one of most widely celebrated holidays in the world today.

Before members enjoyed the program of Indian music and dance, Modi introduced the Local 375 Diwali committee and thanked them for helping plan the event. The members include Pradeep Desai and Shirish Patel (Dept. of Design and Construction), Dipak Shah and Janak Patel (New York City Transit), Leela Maret and Bobby Shaw (Dept. of Environmental Protection) and Vishnu Sharma (Housing Authority).

Local 375 Secretary Ahmed Shakir, an adviser to the committee, said the occasion offered an opportunity for people to unite in the face of difficult times.