US President Joe Biden hosted a lively Diwali event at the White House on Monday, gathering nearly 600 prominent Indian Americans to commemorate the festival of lights. During his speech, Biden expressed pleasure in leading an inclusive administration and emphasised the role of South Asian Americans in building the United States.
“As President, I have been honoured to host the largest Diwali celebrations ever at the White House,” he said. “As a senator, vice president, and now president, I’ve had South Asian Americans play important roles on my teams. From Kamala Harris to Dr. Murthy, so many of you here today are important to our country,” he added, addressing a varied crowd of Indian American congress members, officials, and business executives.
The ceremony opened with Indian American youth activist Shrusti Amula introducing Biden, followed by remarks from Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General, and a special video greeting from NASA astronaut Sunita Williams broadcast from the International Space Station.
Biden lit the traditional diya in the Blue Room and applauded the South Asian American community for its contributions to US democracy, stating, “Diwali is now openly celebrated, reminding us of our collective journey towards light and unity.”
