US Postal Service unveils second Diwali stamp featuring rangoli design by Indian artist

THE US Postal Service (USPS) has released a postage stamp commemorating Diwali, featuring an intricate rangoli design created by Houston-based artist Sangita Bhutada.

India’s ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, USPS senior vice-president Shibani Gambhir and Bhutada unveiled the stamp at a function at the Indian embassy in Washington, DC, on Wednesday (21) evening.

The USPS described rangoli as a vibrant floor pattern traditionally made from materials such as colored rice powder, chalk and flower petals, and believed to bring good luck.

Bhutada, a native of India and longtime resident of the Houston area, has practiced the traditional folk art of rangoli for nearly 30 years.

The stamp was designed by Jennifer Arnold, with William J Gicker serving as art director.

Bhutada said the USPS had approached her about creating the design more than a year ago. “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,” she said.

The original rangoli was eight feet in diameter and featured bright colors such as blue, orange, green, red and white. This is the second time the USPS has issued a Diwali stamp. The first was released in 2016.

“The USPS has been issuing postage stamps since 1893 to commemorate cultures from around the world. Our stamps allow us to weave together a tapestry that reflects the rich and multifaceted heritage of America,” Gambhir said.

Addressing the gathering, Kwatra thanked Bhutada for keeping the age-old tradition of rangoli alive through her designs.