<img src="https://static.gujaratsamachar.com/content_image/content_image_02bf6185-6897-4989-8c3f-59ed11fbafc3.jpeg" data-filename="US-President-extends-Diwali-greetings-at-White-House-to-Indian-American-community.jpg" style="width: 100%;"> Ahead of Diwali, the President of the US, Joe Biden, invited a community of south Asians to White House and conveyed greetings on Monday.“Welcome home, Happy Diwali America,” he said.“South Asians first arrived in America in the late 1700s, but even in the 1800s and 1900s this diverse community continued to contribute to the growth of our nation,” Biden said.“This is not my house; this is your house...Today we face an inflection point...Every once in a few generations we are reminded to not take the Idea of America for granted,” he added.“On this day in America, we think about that journey of light. Early in our nation’s founding, A generation before diya, in the shadow of suspicion, now in a time Diwali is celebrated openly and proudly here in the White House.” added Biden.<img src="https://static.gujaratsamachar.com/content_image/content_image_9504c167-7b4e-4410-8128-79806c9bce26.jpeg" data-filename="happy-diwali-white-house.jpg" style="width: 100%;"> He highlighted the contributions of the South Asian American community to American life, stating that it is the fastest-growing and most engaged community in the world.However, first lady Jill Biden and Kamala Harris were absent at the Diwali celebration at White House.The US President recalled the time when he and Jill hosted the first Diwali celebration at the vice president’s residence in 2016.“In late November 2016, a dark cloud formed from hate and hostility toward immigrants, including South Asian Americans. We hear once again in 2024. It was then that Jill and I hosted the first Diwali reception and it was at the Vice President's residence. An Irish Catholic President, Vice President at the time, opened our home for holiday celebrations by Hindus, Buddhists, Jainists, Sikhs, and more. How America reminds us all of our power to be the light, all of us,” he said.The Diwali party was attended by more than 600 eminent Indian-Americans, including Congressman Shri Thanedar, US Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H Murthy, Gita Gopinath, the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Suhag Shukla, Executive Director at Hindu American Foundation.Before Biden’s speech, Indian-origin NASA astronaut, Sunita Williams, extended warm Diwali wishes from the space via video call.<img src="https://static.gujaratsamachar.com/content_image/content_image_3dcbfe35-4b22-4166-9879-25e4e5996918.jpeg" data-filename="Sunita williams diwali.jpg" style="width: 100%;"> Also read:<a href="https://english.gujaratsamachar.com/news/nri-news/president-biden-to-celebrate-diwali-with-indian-americans-at-white-house" target="_blank">President Biden to celebrate Diwali with Indian-Americans at White House</a><a href="https://english.gujaratsamachar.com/news/nri-news/indian-diaspora-in-pennsylvania-get-official-diwali-holiday-after-guv-signs-bill" target="_blank">Indian diaspora in Pennsylvania get official Diwali holiday after Guv signs bill</a>

Ahead of Diwali, the President of the US, Joe Biden, invited a community of south Asians to White House and conveyed greetings on Monday.

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US President extends Diwali greetings at White House to Indian American community

US President extends Diwali greetings at White House to Indian-American community

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