Oct. 23, 2019 – NC Department of Health and Human Services employees celebrated Diwali with Governor Roy Cooper and DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen on Oct. 18 on the Dorothea Dix Campus.
Governor Cooper holds the proclamation declaring Oct. 25-29 as Diwali in North Carolina as Secretary Cohen, left, and Pyreddy Reddy look on.
On Friday, Governor Cooper proclaimed Oct. 25–29 as Diwali in North Carolina to help celebrate the festival of lights. Diwali is India’s largest celebration of the year and celebrates the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
DHHS employees gathered in the Haywood Gym Friday afternoon for traditional singing, dancing and instrumental performances by DHHS employees of Indian heritage.
Governor Cooper and Secretary Cohen thanked the employees for the celebration and their willingness to share their traditions with everyone, as well as their commitment to DHHS and the state of North Carolina. Traditional Indian cuisine and sweets were shared as part of the festivities.
Diwali is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists in the United States and around the world. Those who celebrate decorate homes with lamps and candles, burst firecrackers and sparklers, eat sweets and other savory dishes and send good wishes to one another.
DHHS employees dress in traditional Indian garb.
Organizers of the event were happy to celebrate their heritage with their colleagues this year and every year.
“It was a fabulous event for employees to be able to celebrate Diwali with co-workers and special guests like Governor Cooper, Secretary Cohen and Senator [Jay] Chaudhuri,” said Pyreddy Reddy, DHHS’ Chief Information Security Officer and an organizer of the celebration.
Author: Kelly Haight