Power of One Award Ceremony

On December 6 the annual Power of One Awards ceremony was held at the UN Headquarters. The event was organised by the Permanent Missions of Belarus, Georgia and India to the United Nations together with the Diwali Foundation USA Inc. The ceremony was conducted by V. Rybakov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Belarus to the UN.

The establishment of the «Power of One» award in 2017 by the Diwali Foundation USA Inc. was related to the release of the Diwali stamp by the United States Postal Service in 2016. In 2018, the United Nations Postal Service issued its own dedicated to Diwali stamp.

This award is given to diplomats and international officials who have played a significant role in strengthening international peace, as well as promoting common to all mankind ideals.

The holding of events dedicated to Diwali has become the «calling card» of Belarus, as well as a good tradition at the UN, uniting more and more states every year.

The laureates of the «Power of One» Award in 2019 were the Permanent Representatives to the UN of Cyprus, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, and Ukraine who completed or completing the work in New York.

Diwali is the main Indian and Hindu holiday and is celebrated as the «Festival of Lights» symbolising victory of good over evil. As a sign of this victory, candles and lanterns are lit everywhere. In addition to India, Diwali is widely celebrated in states with large Hindu communities: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Mauritius, Fiji, and in certain regions of concentration of Indian immigrants in the US and Britain. In the United Nations, this holiday is recommended for celebration in accordance with the UN GA resolution 69/250.

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