Close X
Saturday, November 2, 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

Indian student in US severely injured in car accident

Indian student in US severely injured in car accident
Sahithi was rushed to emergency care at Mosaic Life Care in St Joseph, Missouri, after the car hit a traffic light pole, leaving her severely injured.  Sahithi, a graduate student whose parents are in India, is looking for support to meet her medical expenses.

Indian student in US severely injured in car accident

Biden to finally visit Canada March 23-24

Biden to finally visit Canada March 23-24
The two leaders will discuss ongoing upgrades to the aging, jointly led Norad continental defence system, which came under heavy scrutiny last month when a Chinese surveillance balloon drifted through U.S. and Canadian airspace.

Biden to finally visit Canada March 23-24

Indian-American pleads guilty in $20 mn fraud scheme

Indian-American pleads guilty in $20 mn fraud scheme
Nikesh Ajay Patel of Florida was charged with 13 counts, including one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and eight counts of money laundering.

Indian-American pleads guilty in $20 mn fraud scheme

Indian-origin woman killed, daughter hurt in small plane crash in US

Indian-origin woman killed, daughter hurt in small plane crash in US
Roma Gupta, 63, was killed on Sunday on Long Island when the plane, a four-seater single-engine Piper Cherokee, went down in flames as it was returning to the Republic Airport on Long Island from where it had also taken off. Her daughter Reeva Gupta, 33, and the pilot are in hospital with severe burns. 

Indian-origin woman killed, daughter hurt in small plane crash in US

Cap reached for H-2B visas for second half of FY 2023

Cap reached for H-2B visas for second half of FY 2023
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said February 27 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date on or after April 1 and before October 1.

Cap reached for H-2B visas for second half of FY 2023

Majority of voters not keen on Indian-origin Harris as president: Poll

Majority of voters not keen on Indian-origin Harris as president: Poll
Between February 14 and 20, a poll conducted by the Berkeley Institute of Government Studies and The Los Angeles Times asked 7,512 registered voters about Harris running for President if Biden decided not to seek a second term. It found that 59 per cent of registered voters were hesitant about Harris seeking the country's highest office.

Majority of voters not keen on Indian-origin Harris as president: Poll