November 1, 2002
Source: Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=26947729&sType=1
On November 1, 2002 the Times of India reported that "Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, niece of late president John F. Kennedy, has promised the Indian community that she would organize a Diwali Mela at the Maryland State House if she is elected governor of the state in the November 5 election. She also pledged to strengthen economic ties between Maryland state and India. Townsend announced this on Thursday at a gathering of the community in an Indian-run motel in College Park, Maryland, home to about 50,000 people of Indian origin engaged in high-tech jobs and small businesses."