Washington, Oct 30 (IANS): US lawmakers celebrated, for the first time, Diwali on Capitol Hill after the US Congress passed resolutions honouring the Indian festival of lights and celebrating the strong relationship between US and India.

Tuesday evening’s festivities on Capitol Hill, the seat of the US Congress emceed by Joe Crowley, Democratic co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, were attended by lawmakers prominent Indian-American leaders, and community members.

Separate bipartisan Diwali resolutions adopted by the two chambers of the Congress honour “an important tradition of Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains in the flourishing Indian-American community in the United States as well as those of our partners in India.”

The Senate resolution was introduced by Mark Warner and John Cornyn, Democratic and Republican co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus.

It supports a “strong relationship between the people and governments of the US and India, based on mutual trust and respect to enable them to closely collaborate on a broad range of interests like global peace and prosperity.”

The House resolution introduced Crowley and Peter Roskam, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, expressed deep respect for Indian Americans and the Indian diaspora and appreciated the religious diversity in both India and the US and throughout the world.

Read more: http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2013/10/30/92–US-lawmakers-celebrate-Diwali-.html