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Washington: US President Joe Biden on Monday hosted a Diwali celebration at the White House (the official office and residence of the US President) attended by more than 600 prominent Indian Americans, including lawmakers, officials, and corporate giants from across the country. “As President, I have had the privilege of hosting the largest Diwali celebration ever at the White House. It means a lot to me. As Senator, Vice President and President, South Asian Americans have been key members of my staff,” Biden said in the East Room of the White House.
Biden lit the lamp
Vice President Kamala Harris and Biden’s wife Jill Biden could not attend the event due to their busy election campaign. Before Biden’s speech, US Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H Murthy, retired naval officer and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, and ‘Indian-American youth activist’ Shruti Amula also addressed the ceremony. During this, Sunita sent a video message recorded from the International Space Station. While formally lighting the lamp in the ‘Blue Room’ of the White House, Biden said that the South Asian American community has enriched every part of American life.
Diwali Celebration at the White House
In 2003, then US President George W. Bush started the tradition of celebrating Diwali at the White House. However, he never personally participated in Diwali celebrations. In 2009, Barack Obama personally attended a Diwali party at the White House when he became president. He celebrated Diwali by lighting diyas in the White House. After this, Donald Trump took this tradition forward when he became president in 2017. In 2022, President Joe Biden along with First Lady Jill Biden hosted the biggest Diwali party ever at the White House. During this, more than 200 people were invited.
