AnyTV News US President Joe Biden celebrated Diwali festival at 'White House' -

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US President Joe Biden

Washington: US President Joe Biden on Monday hosted Diwali celebrations at the White House (the official office and residence of the US President) which was attended by over 600 eminent Indian Americans, including lawmakers, officials and corporate leaders from across the country. Biden said in the ‘East Room’ of the ‘White House’, “As President, I have the privilege of hosting the largest Diwali celebration ever at the ‘White House’. It meant a lot to me. South Asian Americans have been key members of my staff as Senator, Vice President, and President.”

Biden lit the lamp

Vice President Kamala Harris and Biden’s wife Jill Biden could not attend the event due to being busy in election campaigning. 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. Ceremonially lighting the lamp in the ‘Blue Room’ of the White House, Biden said the South Asian American community has enriched every part of American life.

Diwali celebration at White House

In 2003, the 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 after becoming President. He celebrated Diwali by lighting lamps in the White House. After this, when Donald Trump became President in 2017, he took this tradition further. In 2022, President Joe Biden, along with First Lady Jill Biden, hosted the biggest Diwali party ever at the White House. During this period more than 200 people were invited. (Language)