Washington, D.C. (Commonwealth Union)_ US President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hosted the largest ever Diwali celebration at the White House, with the participation of Indian American community leaders. Over 200 prominent Indian Americans took part in the celebration in the East Room, a place that has hosted some of the most significant events in the history of the India-US relationship, such as the signing of the nuclear deal and the joint press conference held in November 2008 by then-US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The celebration featured intriguing cultural performances, such as those of sitarist Rishab Sharma and dance ensemble The Sa Dance Company. The visitors, attired in traditional Indian garments such as sarees, lehenga and sherwanis, enjoyed some delectable Indian dishes. H R Shah, chairman and CEO of TV Asia, the leading South Asian television network in the United States, expressed gratitude to the President and First Lady for this honor. According to him, it is a joy and an honor to be at the White House to celebrate Diwali.
Atul Keshap, head of the US India Business Council, said: “I feel very privileged to be here as an Indian American”. The dining room at the East State was packed. This is also a genuine celebration to mark the accomplishments of the Indian-American community in the United States. It is a fantastic gesture by the President and the White House to celebrate Diwali with all Indian Americans. Bhutoria praised the Diwali reception, stating that it demonstrated the administration’s love and respect for the South Asian population.
M R Rangaswami, entrepreneur, philanthropist and creator of Indiaspora, stated that it was encouraging to see the leaders of the thriving Indian-American community gather at the White House during Diwali to be a positive force for society. He also expressed delight over the President welcoming Rishi Sunak as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Earlier, when welcoming the guests, President Biden stated that this was the first Diwali celebration of this magnitude hosted at the White House.
