US Postal Service releases Diwali stamp featuring Indian artist's rangoli

The US Postal Service (USPS) has released a postage stamp commemorating the festival of Diwali, featuring an intricate rangoli pattern created by Sangita Bhutada, a Houston-based artist.

India's Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra, USPS Senior Vice President Shibani Gambhir and Bhutada unveiled the stamp at a function at the Indian embassy here on Wednesday evening.

The USPS described rangoli as a vibrant floor pattern traditionally made from materials, such as coloured rice powder, chalk and flower petals, and believed to bring good luck.

Bhutada is a native of India and a longtime resident of the Houston area.

He has practised the ancient folk art of rangoli for nearly 30 years.

The stamp was designed by Jennifer Arnold, and William J Gicker was the art director.

Bhutada told PTI that the USPS reached out to her for making the stamp more than a year back.

"I shared a dozen sketches with the USPS of which they selected four.

The actual work on the rangoli took abo