Biden thanks Indian-Americans as he hosts Diwali reception at White House
US President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hosted a Diwali reception at the White House on Monday. As per the White House, this is the largest reception since the People’s House started celebrating the festival during the George Bush administration.
Welcoming the guests, Biden said it was the first Diwali reception to be held at the White House on such a scale. He said, “The incredible South Asian community all across America has helped the country emerge stronger from this pandemic, building an economy that works for everyone, teaching children and caring for elders, responding to the cry for action on climate, working to fix the immigration system, defending rights and freedoms, building a more just and equitable country, serving and protecting our communities and the nation, informing, entertaining and inspiring.”
Speaking on the occasion, Biden wished a happy Diwali to the “more than one billion Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists celebrating this Festival of Lights” in the United States, India, and around the world.
“As we host the official White House Diwali reception, we are honored to light the diya surrounded by members of the most diverse Administration in American history—led by Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black American and South Asian American to become Vice President,” he said.
The reception saw some enthralling cultural events, including performances by sitarist Rishab Sharma and the dance troupe The Sa Dance Company. The guests, dressed in traditional Indian attires such as saree, lehenga, and sherwani, relished some mouthwatering Indian delicacies.
More than 200 eminent Indian Americans attended the reception at the East Room, a venue that has witnessed some of the landmark events related to the India-US relationship.
“The room is full at the East state dining room… This is a real celebration of what the Indian American community has achieved in the United States. It’s a wonderful recognition by the President and the White House to host all of us on Diwali. I feel very privileged to be here as an Indian American,” Atul Keshap, president of the US India Business Council said.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to be here to celebrate Diwali. Indian Americans thank the President and the First Lady for this,” said H R Shah, chairman and CEO of TV Asia, the largest South Asian television channel in the US.
Ajay Jain Bhutoria, a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, said the event was held to recognize the South Asian community’s contributions to economic development and to manage the Covid crisis among others.
Biden has appointed a record number of over 130 Indo-Americans at various levels of the administrations, he said.
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Hosting is superficial & not with any good intentions. Voting times, so politicians get sensitive & increase their style quotient.