US diplomats to grace Varanasi's Dev Deepawali

Varanasi, Oct 23 (UNI) Alongside the countless foreign tourists, a group of the US diplomats will catch glimpse of the glittering 'Dev Deepawali' on the majestic riverfront here on November 5.

''Four counselors from the US embassy in New Delhi will come down to Varanasi to catch the treasured glimpse of Dev Deepawali on November 5, when the 80-odd ghats dotting Ganga river will wear the twinkling garland of a sea of diyas,'' newly nominated member of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) National Executive Council Ashok Kapoor told newspersons here today.

The quartet of diplomats will be led by Minister Counselor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in New Delhi. Larry Scwartz who will be the Chief Guest of the Dev Deepawali celebrations organised at the historic Dashwashamedh Ghat by Gangotri Sewa Samiti.

The other three US dignatories include Richard Sherman, Counselor for Consular Affairs (Visa Counselor), John Davison, Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs and Adnan Siddiqi, Counselor for Cultural Affairs.

''With the participation of the US Embassy officials in the glittering delight, we want to elevate Dev Deepawali to an international event, which is recognised by the tourism industry worldwide,'' Mr Kapoor added.

Not only the US officials, but their families also will embark the floating 'bajras' (house-boats) on the sacred river to capture the glimpse of the imposing riverfront basking in the radiance of the twinkling diyas, he said.

Engaging the US actively in Dev Deepawali celebrations is likely to be followed up by efforts to rope in American business fraternity to fork out funds to further elevate the grandeur of the morning and evening Ganga Arti in Varanasi, especially on Assi Ghat, he said.

''We want to develop Ganga Arti into an Indo-US cultural joint venture that not only propels tourists, but also Hollywood crews to the holy city,'' Mr Kapoor added.

The US officials during their stay will also attend the three-day annual day celebrations of Varanasi Branch of IACC, starting November 4. Besides, they will interact with students of Faculty of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), IACC (Varanasi) chairman Puneet Raman said.

Mr Raman said two of IACC (Varanasi) past chairman Ashok Kapoor and Anurag Chandra, have been nominated members of National Executive Council and North India Regional Council of IACC respectively.

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