‘Waris Ahluwalia Day’ in NY, message of ‘tolerance’

New York, October 20

In a rare honour, New York City declared October 19 as “Waris Ahluwalia Day” in recognition of the Sikh-American actor and designer for his “powerful” message of countering ignorance and advocating religious understanding and tolerance.

Mayor Bill de Blasio honoured Ahluwalia at a reception to celebrate Diwali.

Lauding Ahluwalia’s talents of being a fashion designer, writer, actor and model, de Blasio said as a Sikh, Ahluwalia “proudly wears his ‘dastar’ (turban) wherever he goes and so he sends a powerful message to our city and to our country of countering ignorance, celebrating inclusion and advocating religious understanding and tolerance”.

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Addressing a gathering of 300-400 Indian-Americans and other people from the South Asian community, de Blasio extended a special greeting to his “Sikh brothers and sisters” and underscored that an attack on any community and individual because of their faith is an “attack on all of us”.

Joined by his wife Chirlane McCray (in a yellow salwar-kameez), de Blasio said whenever any community is affronted, the New York Police Department is present to protect that community.

Amid loud cheers, the Mayor said a special Diwali guide will be distributed to New York teachers to help them educate students in the city about the “meaning” of the Indian festival of lights.

Ahluwalia thanked the Mayor for the “incredible honour” and said while he has called New York home ever since he moved here from India as a child, after the 9/11 terror attacks, “people would glare at me with anger and hate as I walked down my own streets, in my own hometown. That was very confusing for me”. — PTI