NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, DC, October 22, 2026: A decade after issuing its first Diwali postage stamp, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has once again honored the festival of lights, unveiling a colorful new Forever stamp featuring a traditional Indian rangoli created by Houston-area artist Sangita Bhutada.
The stamp was officially dedicated on October 21, 2026, at the Embassy of India in Washington, DC, in a ceremony attended by Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra, USPS officials and members of the Indian American community.
The release marks a significant cultural milestone, coming ten years after USPS introduced its first Diwali stamp in 2016, following years of advocacy by Indian American organizations and community leaders seeking greater recognition of the festival in the United States.
The new stamp celebrates Diwali through the intricate art of rangoli, a traditional Indian practice of creating decorative patterns using colored powders, flowers and other materials, often at the entrances of homes during festivals and auspicious occasions.
For Bhutada, who has practiced rangoli art for nearly 30 years, the project transformed a familiar cultural tradition into a work of art that will travel across the United States on letters and greeting cards.
A native of India and longtime resident of the Houston area, Bhutada was approached by USPS more than a year before the stamp’s release. She submitted approximately a dozen sketches, from which postal officials shortlisted four designs.
“I shared a dozen sketches with the USPS of which they selected four. The actual work on the rangoli took about 10 days. The only suggestion I received was to use bright colours that would be rendered better on the stamp,” Bhutada told the Press Trust of India.
The finished rangoli measured eight feet in diameter and featured an elaborate arrangement of blue, orange, green, red and white patterns. Bhutada used colored sand and starch-based powders, carefully applying the materials by hand and sometimes using a kitchen strainer to achieve the desired effect.
While her usual rangoli creations take four to six hours, the stamp artwork required eight to ten days. Houston-area photographer Bijay Dixit photographed the completed design, which was then placed against a striking purple background.
Jennifer Arnold designed the stamp, while William J. Gicker served as art director.
At the dedication ceremony, Shibani Gambhir, USPS senior vice president of revenue operations, emphasized the Postal Service’s longstanding tradition of recognizing America’s diverse cultural heritage.
“Since 1893, the Postal Service has issued stamps commemorating the cultures of people who have come from around the world,” Gambhir said. “Ours is truly a world culture, and our stamps allow us to weave together a tapestry that reflects the rich and multifaceted heritage of America.”
The stamp’s release also reflects sustained advocacy by the Indian American community.
According to a report by IANS, Gambhir said USPS had printed 20 million copies of the new stamp, partly in response to strong community interest and the popularity of the original 2016 issue.
“There was so much advocacy on behalf of the Indian community to create a second stamp,” she said, adding that the Postal Service expected the new design to be popular with both the community and stamp collectors.
Ambassador Kwatra described Indian Americans as a vital cultural link between the two countries, highlighting the role of students, professionals, artists and families in strengthening India-U.S. relations.
He said the stamp offered an opportunity to celebrate India’s cultural heritage with the diaspora and the wider American public.
The 2016 stamp featured a traditional diya, or oil lamp, one of the most recognizable symbols of Diwali. The 2026 design shifts the focus to rangoli, another enduring expression of the festival’s artistic and spiritual traditions.
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Celebrated by millions around the world, it is an important occasion for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, although the religious significance varies among communities.
This year, the main day of Diwali falls on November 8.
The new stamp is available at post offices nationwide and through the USPS website in sheets of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will remain valid for the prevailing First-Class Mail one-ounce letter rate, regardless of future postage increases.
