USPS celebrates Hindu festival of Diwali with commemorative stamp

The U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp to celebrate Diwali, also known as Deepavali. Diwali is a five-day autumn festival that marks the triumph of good over evil and is observed on the new moon that falls between mid-October and mid-November. In 2026, the festival will be observed on November 8. The stamp features a photograph by Bijay Dixit of a rangoli created by Sangita Bhutada. Rangoli is a traditional floor pattern often made from colored rice powder, chalk, and flower petals and placed in and around homes to invite good fortune during Diwali. Jennifer Arnold designed the stamp, with William J. Gicker serving as the project’s art director. The stamp will be issued as a Forever stamp, meaning its value will always be equal to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. The release highlights the inclusion of Diwali and related cultural traditions in U.S. philately and the continuing effort to recognize the diverse heritage of Indian American communities in the United States.