Wednesday, Oct 5, the U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the Hindu festival of Diwali with a Forever stamp. The first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony will take place at the Consulate General of India, New York.
The stamp design is a photograph featuring a traditional lighted diya or oil lamp placed on a sparkling gold background. These lamps are usually made from clay with cotton wicks dipped in clarified butter known as “ghee” or in vegetable oils.
Diwali is a shortened version of the Sanskrit word Deepavali, which roughly translates as “a necklace of lights”, and it celebrates the triumph of good over evil. This Forever stamp will also be equal in value to the current First Class Mail 1-ounce price.