Close X
Friday, November 22, 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

Kuwait fire tragedy: Around 40 Indians killed, says MEA; Jaishankar speaks to Kuwaiti FM

Kuwait fire tragedy: Around 40 Indians killed, says MEA; Jaishankar speaks to Kuwaiti FM
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday spoke to his Kuwaiti counterpart Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya about the fire tragedy in Kuwait City in which around 40 Indians are feared to have died. According to reports by Kuwaiti media, the fire broke out in a six-floor building that was crammed with migrant workers in the city's al-Mangaf area.

Kuwait fire tragedy: Around 40 Indians killed, says MEA; Jaishankar speaks to Kuwaiti FM

Four Israeli soldiers killed in Rafah building explosion

Four Israeli soldiers killed in Rafah building explosion
Four Israeli soldiers have been killed in an explosion at a building in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli military. The army announced the deaths of the four men, aged between 19 and 24, on Tuesday.

Four Israeli soldiers killed in Rafah building explosion

UK PM promises tax cuts, reduced immigration in election manifesto

UK PM promises tax cuts, reduced immigration in election manifesto
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday promised to cut taxes and reduce immigration as he launched the Conservative Party's general election manifesto. The Conservatives promised to cut the amount of national insurance paid by employees by a further 2 percentage points if the party is re-elected, reported Xinhua News Agency.

UK PM promises tax cuts, reduced immigration in election manifesto

French President calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

French President calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza
French President Emmanuel Macron has urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for a political solution while meeting with his US counterpart Joe Biden, who is on a state visit to France. "After nine months of conflict, the situation in Rafah, and the human toll, are unacceptable," Macron said on Saturday at a joint press conference.

French President calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Indian origin man shoots brother dead, injures mother, kills self in New York

Indian origin man shoots brother dead, injures mother, kills self in New York
An Indian-origin man here shot his brother dead, injured his mother, and then killed himself, according to police. Karamjit Multani, 33, shot his brother Vipanpal, 27, on Sunday in their home in the Richmond Hill neighbourhood and went out and turned the gun on himself at a place about two kilometres away, police said.

Indian origin man shoots brother dead, injures mother, kills self in New York

Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes

Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes
Donald Trump becomes the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes Thursday as a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. Trump sat stone-faced while the verdict was read as cheering from the street below could be heard in the hallway on the courthouse's 15th floor where the decision was revealed after more than nine hours of deliberations.

Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes