In a move that has stirred strong reactions online, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Diwali message has come under fire for not mentioning Hindus, the community at the festival’s heart. The official greeting, shared on X (formerly Twitter), extended “warm wishes to the many communities” celebrating Diwali but made no reference to Hindus. The omission, though subtle, has been viewed by many as a slight to the faith and its followers, especially given Diwali’s deep cultural and religious roots within Hinduism.
The Big picture
Rubio’s message, released through the US State Department, followed the diplomatic tone of inclusivity — wishing “those celebrating Diwali” joy and peace. However, the absence of any mention of Hindus struck a nerve. Critics argue that describing Diwali as celebrated by “many communities” effectively dilutes its identity and overlooks its unmistakable Hindu origins. While Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists observe Diwali in smaller cultural contexts, its essence — the triumph of light over darkness, of dharma over adharma — is fundamentally rooted in Hindu tradition.Social media users quickly highlighted this gap, many expressed that such a high-profile message, stripped of cultural specificity, felt dismissive of Hindu identity rather than inclusive.
Symbolism and recognition matter
For millions of Hindus worldwide, Diwali is not merely a cultural festival — it is a sacred celebration honouring Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya, the goddess Lakshmi’s blessings, and the victory of light over ignorance. Failing to acknowledge the community that gave the world this festival, many believe, reduces Diwali to a generic occasion. Critics see this as part of a broader trend where Western institutions attempt to universalise religious festivals, often erasing their spiritual and cultural origins in the process.From a diplomatic perspective, Rubio’s message may have aimed for neutrality. Yet, in doing so, it overlooked the symbolic weight such recognition carries. For a community long striving for cultural visibility in global discourse, the omission of “Hindus” from a Diwali greeting feels less like an oversight — and more like indifference dressed as inclusivity.
