QUICK TAKE | How Did an Eight-Foot Rangoli End Up on a US Diwali Stamp? Seven Things to Know

1. When did the US issue its new Diwali stamp?

The US Postal Service issued it nationwide on October 21, 2026, with a dedication at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC. The US Embassy in India drew fresh attention to the stamp ahead of November 8, the main day of Diwali this year.

2. What’s on the stamp?

A circular rangoli in blue, orange, green, red and white against a purple background. Rangolis are patterns traditionally made on floors, often near entrances. During Diwali, families make them to welcome guests and, in many Hindu households, to invite Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

3. Who made the original rangoli?

Sangita Bhutada, an artist from India based in the Houston area, made it on the floor with coloured sand and starch-based powder. She sprinkled the material with her fingers and sometimes used a kitchen strainer. The eight-foot design took eight to 10 days, compared with her usual four to six hours.

4. How did it get small enough for an envelope?

The original was deliberately large so photographer Bijay Dixit could capture its detail in high resolution. Stamp designer Jennifer Arnold used his photograph to create the finished artwork, which occupies an area roughly three-quarters of an inch wide.

5. What did America’s first Diwali stamp look like?

The 2016 stamp featured a lit diya, a traditional oil lamp, against a glittering gold background. USPS issued it in New York on October 5 that year. A decade later, the second design turns to another familiar sight from Diwali celebrations.

6. What does “Forever” mean?

One stamp covers the current US First-Class Mail rate for a standard domestic letter weighing up to one ounce. If that rate goes up, the stamp still covers the postage. Anyone who bought the diya stamp in 2016 can still use it on a qualifying letter today.

7. How much does a sheet cost?

The USPS store lists a sheet of 20 at $16.40, or 82 cents per stamp. The Postal Service printed 20 million stamps, equivalent to one million sheets.