Biden hosts Diwali celebration at White House

PTI

Washington 

US President Joe Biden on Monday hosted a Diwali celebration at the White House that was attended by more than 600 eminent Indian Americans, including Congressmen, officials, and corporate executives, from across the country. In a standing-only packed East Room of the White House, Biden said, “As President, I've been honoured to host the biggest Diwali receptions ever at the White House. “To me, it means a great deal. As Senator, Vice President, and President, South Asian-Americans have been key members of my staff. From Kamala to Dr Murthy to so many of you here today, I'm proud that I kept my commitment to have an administration that looks like America,” said Biden, who hosted the last Diwali celebration in his capacity as the president at the White House. Biden is not running for the next week's presidential polls.

Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Dr Jill Biden could not attend the event as they were on the campaign trail. Biden's remarks were preceded by Vice Admiral Vivek H Murthy, US Surgeon General; Sunita Williams, Retired Navy Officer and NASA Astronaut who sent a recorded video message from the International Space Station (ISS), and Shrusti Amula, Indian- American youth activist, who introduced the president. “In late November 2016, a dark cloud formed from hate and hostility toward immigrants, including South Asian Americans. We hear once again in 2024. “It was then that Jill and I hosted the first Diwali reception and it was at the Vice President's residence.

An Irish Catholic President, Vice President at the time, opened our home for holiday celebrations by Hindus, Buddhists, Jainists, Sikhs, and more. How America reminds us all of our power to be the light, all of us,” he said. Biden, who lit the formal diya in the Blue Room of the White House, said the South Asian American community has enriched every part of American life. “That's the truth. That is among the fastest-growing, most engaged communities in the country you are now,” he said

. “On this day in America, we think about that journey of light. Early in our nation's founding, a generation before, diya (was) in the shadow of suspicion. Now is a time, Diwali is celebrated openly and proudly here in the White House. We also know today, we face an inflection point,” he said. Asserting that the American democracy has never been easy, Biden said, “In a country as diverse as ours, we debate, we dissent as we forge a path forward through compromise and consensus. But the key is we never lose sight of how we got here and why.”