Above: Andrew Hurst speaking before the Nepalese during their gathering to celebrate the great festivals of Dashain and Deepawali.
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Above: Dibya Khanal dancing to the Nepali tune during the cultural program.
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Springfield, VA -- Andrew Hurst, democratic nominee for the 11th congressional district of Virginia, last Monday said that ‘limited amnesty’ should be offered to illegal immigrants who have been living in the USA for a long period of time and have been contributing for the economy of the nation.

However, Hurst, the practicing lawyer from Springfield who is running against Thomas Davis in the upcoming November 7 elections, turned down the idea of fencing the border as a solution to the immigration problem and said that the congress should crack down on the illegal immigrants by other rational means.

“I support the path to citizenship that would involve possible fines, paying back taxes and learning English before going to the ‘back’ of the immigration line, behind those who are already in the process legally,” Hurst outlined.

“We want America to be a nation of true immigrants,” Hurst was speaking before a Nepali community in Springfield which had gathered to observe the Hindu festivals of Dashain and Deepawali.

Talking exclusively with Asian Fortune after the addressing the gathering, Hurst said that he does not support a guest worker program. “It has the potential to create a second class of citizens,” he stressed.

As to how would he address the immigration issue, Hurst said that the first thing they would do is secure the borders. “This administration and this Republication Congress have been woefully inadequate in this area. I will work to hire more border patrol agents and invest in new technologies – like infrared cameras – that will make patrolling our border more efficient.

“We also need to crack down on the employers who hire and exploit undocumented immigrants,” said Hurst.

However, Hurst supported the diversity visa lottery program with the help of which US has been bringing in 50,000 people from across the globe. “I would rather say I am willing to expand the number of immigrants allowed under the program.”

Hurst lauded the role of Asian communities for helping raise the economy of Northern Virginia and hoped that the communities would continue to do so. Northern Virginia comes next to Texas when it comes to housing the immigrants from Asia.

Girish Pokharel of Association of Nepalese in America said Hurst was a rising political leader from Northern Virginia with a vision for national and international political and socio economic issues.

About 500 people of Nepali origin participated in the function which was followed by cultural program.

Nepalese observe festivals of Dasain and Deepawali on the month of October every year to cherish the victory of the good against the evil and the light against the darkness. On the occasion, the Nepalese exchanged best wishes amongst each other and wished for happy and prosperous life. There are approximately 25,000 Nepalese people living around greater Washington DC area.

The festival of Dashain falls between late September and early October. It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar. The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. Throughout the country the goddess Durga in all her manifestations are worshiped

Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. One of the victory stories told is the Ramayana, where the lord Rama after a big struggle slaughtered Ravana, the fiendish king of demons. It is said that lord Rama was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorized the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was slain and the last five days symbolize the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess. Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped as the divine mother goddess.

Deepawali, meanwhile, is a festival of lights symbolizing the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. The word 'Deepawali' literally means rows of lamps. A family festival, it is celebrated for 20 days after Dashain, on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Asvin (October-November)

Continuing the story of Rama, this festival commemorates Lord Rama's return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile. Twinkling oil lamps light up every home and firework displays are common all across the country. The Goddess Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu), who is the symbol of wealth and prosperity, is also worshipped on this day.