Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
International

President Biden to celebrate Diwali with Indian-Americans at White House today

Darpan News Desk IANS, 31 Oct, 2024 09:46 AM
  • President Biden to celebrate Diwali with Indian-Americans at White House today

US President Joe Biden will celebrate Diwali in the evening with a large number of Indian-Americans from across the country at the White House, his last as the President, the White House said in a statement.

The day promises to be a memorable tribute to Indian heritage and culture, emphasising the growing bond between the US and the Indian-American community.

Continuing a tradition from previous years, the President will light a Diya lamp in the Blue Room before his remarks, the White House said.

After this, he would deliver remarks before a gathering of Indian-Americans, for whom he is hosting a reception.

This would be President Biden's last Diwali reception at the White House as he is not running for the presidential election.

Among the President's introductions will be a video message from Sunita Williams, a decorated NASA astronaut and retired Navy Captain.

She recorded a video greeting from the International Space Station (ISS), where she took over as Commander in September, the White House said.

Sunita Williams is a practising Hindu and has previously sent Diwali greetings from the ISS to people across the globe.

She has also brought multiple Indian/Hindu cultural items, including samosas and copies of Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita with her to space in celebration of her heritage, it said.

Nootana, a classical South Asian dance and music ensemble based in Washington, DC, will provide musical entertainment for guests, in addition to the Marine Corps Band, the White House added.

Last year after the Diwali celebration, the US President shared a video of the festivities on microblogging platform X in which he was seen lighting a diya with US First Lady Jill Biden at the White House.

"Today, Jill and I lit the diya to symbolise Diwali's message of seeking the light of wisdom, love, and unity over the darkness of hate and division. May we embrace the enduring spirit of this holiday and of our nation – and reflect on the strength of our shared light," he posted.

Photo courtesy of X.com/POTUS

 

MORE International ARTICLES

Video shows US cop joking about Indian student killed by fellow officer

Video shows US cop joking about Indian student killed by fellow officer
Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old student of Northeastern University campus in South Lake Union, was walking near Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street when she was hit by a Seattle Police vehicle driven by Kevin Dave on January 23. In the brief clip, Seattle Police Officers’ Guild Vice President Daniel Auderer is seen driving and can be heard saying, "she had limited value", in a call with the guild’s president, Mike Solan, KIRO 7 news channel reported on Wednesday.

Video shows US cop joking about Indian student killed by fellow officer

Indian-origin cop in UK fired for using ‘unreasonable’ force to arrest man

Indian-origin cop in UK fired for using ‘unreasonable’ force to arrest man
Police Constable Mandeep Dharni, attached to the Met's North West Command Unit, appeared before a misconduct hearing last week for use of excessive force during an arrest at a car park in Barnet earlier this month, police said on Monday. It was alleged that Dharni failed to use the appropriate force and failed to act with authority, respect and courtesy when restraining a man, who was later charged with criminal damage and public order offences.

Indian-origin cop in UK fired for using ‘unreasonable’ force to arrest man

The US marks 22 years since 9/11 with tributes and tears, from ground zero to Alaska

The US marks 22 years since 9/11 with tributes and tears, from ground zero to Alaska
President Joe Biden was due at a ceremony on a military base in Anchorage, Alaska. His visit, en route to Washington from a trip to India and Vietnam, is a reminder that the impact of 9/11 was felt in every corner of the nation, however remote. Nearly 3,000 people were killed when hijacked planes crashed into the trade center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, in an attack that reshaped American foreign policy and domestic fears.  

The US marks 22 years since 9/11 with tributes and tears, from ground zero to Alaska

In U.S., Canada's 'game plan' for Trump all about stepping up the tempo of talks

In U.S., Canada's 'game plan' for Trump all about stepping up the tempo of talks
Canada's ambassador to Washington typically doesn't get a whole lot of notice before the president of the United States makes a decision with the potential to reverberate beyond the country's borders. But when President Joe Biden signed a measure to better ensure U.S. companies and workers reap the lion's share of the benefits of American research and development, Kirsten Hillman had known about it for nearly two months.

In U.S., Canada's 'game plan' for Trump all about stepping up the tempo of talks

Dangerous heat wave hits eastern US

Dangerous heat wave hits eastern US
A dangerous heat wave is baking the eastern US, with several cities breaking records and the heat stretching from Minnesota to Texas to Massachusetts. Meanwhile, temperatures could reach a scorching 37 degrees in Washington, D.C.; 31 in New York City; 36 in Raleigh, North Carolina; 33 in Minneapolis; 32 in Chicago; 37.7 in Oklahoma City; and 38 in Dallas and San Antonio.  

Dangerous heat wave hits eastern US

UK MPs urge Sunak to call for release of British Sikh held in India

UK MPs urge Sunak to call for release of British Sikh held in India
In a letter, the MPs urged Sunak to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "immediately release" Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been "arbitrarily detained" for over five years in India, the BBC reported.

UK MPs urge Sunak to call for release of British Sikh held in India