New York: For the past nine years, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has led efforts in California and elsewhere to recognize October as Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month, part of the global Hindu Heritage Month campaign. October is significant because it is the birth month of Mahatma Gandhi, as well as when major Hindu holidays such as Navratri and Diwali are often celebrated.
This year these efforts continued, with HAF staff, board members, and volunteers collectively successful in getting more than 20 cities in the Bay Area of California to again issue proclamations recognizing HAAAM. At least seven cities in Washington recognized the contributions of Hindu Americans with HAAAM proclamations. In Virginia, several cities and counties, as well as the state itself, issued HAAAM proclamations, as well as separate proclamations recognizing the holiday of Diwali.
Volunteers across the country took great pride in attending in-person council meetings with their families and community members to receive proclamation certificates, sharing part of their culture and tradition with elected officials.
