NY mayor urges people to embrace spirit of Ram, Sita and Gandhi in Diwali message

New York: New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged people to embrace the spirit of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and Mahatma Gandhi and work towards being better people by saying that Diwali serves as a reminder for everyone to drive out darkness and usher in light.
In his remarks at the annual Diwali celebration hosted at his New York residence, Gracie Mansion, Adams asked people to embrace the endeavour to remove the darkness engulfing the world, which is witnessing the loss of innocent lives.
"Diwali is more than just a holiday. It is a reminder to all of us that we must push away the darkness wherever we see it and bring light. That is what the Festival of Lights is about," Adams said.
Adams noted that Diwali is more than just lighting a candle or oil; it's about "lighting up our lives" at the yearly festival, which was attended by hundreds of notable members of the Indian-American and South Asian communities, as well as diaspora from other nationalities and government officials.
"There is so much darkness that we see everyday. So, if we truly believe in the life of Ramayana, if we truly believe in the life of Sita, if we truly believe in the life of Gandhi, then we must continue Gandhi's steps. We cannot only be worshippers; we must be practitioners," he said.
Adams said that at a time when there is darkness all across the globe, and the world is witnessing the loss of innocent lives, "we cannot continue to watch this engulf our future and engulf humanity."