US President Biden celebrates Diwali at White House, honors contributions by South Asian American community

US President Joe Biden celebrated Diwali with a lavish event at the White House on Oct 28, sending his best wishes to Americans and recognizing the contributions of the South Asian American community.

The gathering, which included over 600 notable Indian Americans, such as members of Congress, officials, and business leaders, highlighted the festival's increasing importance in American society.

The celebration, which highlighted vivid colors, traditional entertainment, and an outstanding guest list of over 600 notable Indian Americans, reinforced Diwali's prominence in the United States.

Biden lit the official diya in the Blue Room of the White House, praising the South Asian American community, calling it "the fastest-growing and most engaged community in the world."

Biden said, “The South Asian American community has enriched every part of American life. Now, Diwali is celebrated openly and proudly in the White House."

Invoking the nation's complex path to unity, Biden emphasized in his speech that diversity is essential to American democracy, despite its unique difficulties.

He said, "This is not my house; this is your house... In a country as diverse as ours, we debate, we dissent, but we never lose sight of how we got here and why."

The White House has a long tradition of hosting Diwali celebrations. President Barack Obama embraced the Diwali celebration after President George W Bush started it in 2003 and is renowned for lighting a diya in the Oval Office.

In 2016, Biden threw a Diwali party at the vice president's house, and in 2017, President Donald Trump carried on the custom with his own celebration.

This year’s event also included speeches from prominent individuals, such as US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and retired NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who shared a recorded message from the International Space Station.

Biden, reflecting his commitment to fostering diversity and unity within his administration, said, "As President, I've been honored to host the biggest Diwali receptions ever at the White House.”

He expressed pride in keeping his commitment to reflect America’s diverse makeup, highlighting key figures such as Vice President Kamala Harris and Dr Vivek Murthy in important roles. While lighting the diya, Biden recognized the symbolic journey of light—an essential theme of Diwali—emphasizing a message of resilience.

"In America, everything runs deep, especially the courage to serve, to heal, and to bear witness... to dare to dream," he said.