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Speaker 1: It was a festival of Indian music, food, fashion, and culture.

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Speaker 1: As Massachusetts Indian community celebrated Duwali, the Indian New Year,

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Speaker 1: known as the Festival of Lights, Legislative and Indian community

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Speaker 1: leaders delivered words of congratulations, including the Commissioner of Asian

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Speaker 1: American and Pacific Islanders Affairs, Rakashi Chan.

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Speaker 2: Today, the South Asian population in Massachusetts is thriving, one

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Speaker 2: of the fastest growing in the state. That's why representation matters.

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Speaker 2: That's why we're here to celebrate the Valley, a.

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Speaker 3: Festival that means so much to us, and to ensure

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Speaker 3: our voices are heard.

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Speaker 1: The Indian community will soon have its first ever consulate

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Speaker 1: in Boston, and by next year they hope to also

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Speaker 1: win legislative approval for an official state holiday for the

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Speaker 1: Indian New Year at the State House. Mike Macklin WBZ,

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Speaker 1: Boston's news radio