NEW YORK CITY(TIP): The Indian Consulate in New York hosted, November 9, Diwali with Media friends. The formal event had all the ease of informality, as the Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty sought to make it a memorable event, without the speeches and formal observances. The only  formalities observed were the lighting of the lamp and words of welcome. The lamp was lighted by a group of ladies, led by the first lady of the Consulate Taruna Chakravorty.

The singers  won the hearts of the audience with their mellifluous singing. The young dancers left all wondering their consummate performance.

Kevin Thomas, who won a Senate seat in New York Senate, happens to be the first Indian American ever to be elected to a State Senate. He was felicitated. Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations honored Kevin with a shawl while the Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty presented him a plaque.