This Diwali, the UN has given India a sweet gift: It has lit up its headquarters in New York with a festive “Happy Diwali” in lights, complete with a diya, in its first commemoration of the occasion.
India’s representative to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin thanked Peter Thomson, President of the UN General Assembly, saying, “Thank you President of the General Assembly for this initiative,” adding that “It is a privilege and honour to serve India at UN. I am humbled. Thank you for all the good wishes.”
Peter Thomson on his part tweeted a heartwarming message of unity as he too shared the lit-up headquarters on Twitter:
From this year, Diwali has been made an optional holiday at the UN, and the UN Secretariat will stay lit up from 29-31 October in honour of the festival.
(With inputs from IANS)
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