The US Postal Service (USPS) has unveiled a postage stamp celebrating Diwali, featuring an intricate rangoli design by Houston-based Indian artist Sangita Bhutada.

India’s Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra, USPS Senior Vice President Shibani Gambhir and Bhutada unveiled the stamp at a ceremony at the Indian Embassy on Wednesday evening.

The USPS described rangoli as a colourful floor pattern traditionally created using materials such as coloured rice powder, chalk and flower petals. The art form is believed to bring good luck.

Bhutada, originally from India and a longtime resident of the Houston area, has practised the traditional folk art of rangoli for nearly 30 years. Jennifer Arnold designed the stamp, while William J Gicker served as art director.

Bhutada told PTI that the USPS had approached her more than a year ago to create the design.

"I shared a dozen sketches with the USPS, of which they selected four. The actual work on the rangoli took about 10 days. The only suggestion I received was to use bright colours that would be rendered better on the stamp," she said.

The original rangoli measured eight feet in diameter. It featured bright shades of blue, orange, green, red and white.

This marks the second time the USPS has issued a postage stamp to celebrate Diwali. The first was released in 2016.

"The USPS has been issuing postage stamps since 1893 to commemorate cultures from around the world. Our stamps allow us to weave together a tapestry that reflects the rich and multifaceted heritage of America," Gambhir said.

Addressing the gathering, Kwatra thanked Bhutada for preserving the centuries-old tradition of rangoli through her intricate designs.