Bidens host largest ever Deepavali reception at White House

More than 200 eminent Indian Americans attended the reception at the East Room of the White House, which saw cultural events including performances by sitarist Rishab Sharma and dance troupe The Sa Dance Company

U. S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Monday hosted a Deepavali reception at the White House in what they called the largest since the People’s House started celebrating the festival during the George Bush administration.

More than 200 eminent Indian Americans attended the reception at the East Room, a venue which has witnessed some of the landmark events related to the India-U. S. relationship, including the signing of the nuclear deal and the joint press conference by then U. S. President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2008.

The reception saw some enthralling cultural events, including performances by sitarist Rishab Sharma and dance troupe The Sa Dance Company. The guests, dressed in traditional Indian attires such as saree, lehenga and sherwani, relished some mouthwatering Indian delicacies.

“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 by 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 U. S. India Business Council told PTI during the reception.

“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 U. S.

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 recognise the South Asian community’s contributions in economic development and managing Covid crisis among others.

Mr. Biden has appointed a record number of over 130 Indo-Americans at various levels of the administrations, he said.