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With Diwali round the corner, it seems like President Donald Trump is also all set to embrace this festival to its full glory and celebrate it in the White House on October 24. The festival is going to be celebrated three days ahead of the actual date of the festival. This is the third year that Trump is celebrating this festival.
The tradition of this was initiated by Barack Obama back in 2009. Trump is all set to initiate the festival by lighting up a ceremonial diya on Thursday. There has been no other insights into the celebrations and might be disclosed soon enough.
The very first Diwali celebrations by President Trump were done in the Oval Office in 2017 with a group of some Indian-American community leaders and the solicited members of the administration.
In the last year’s celebrations, President Trump even invited Navtej Singh Sarna, who was the then Indian Ambassador to the US. The Diwali celebrations back then were celebrated in the Roosevelt room. Some of the Diwali celebrations across the Indian community have already started in the United States.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott kickstarted there Diwali celebration on Saturday itself with the Indian-American community that they have around in the state.
Addressing the celebrations, he tweeted saying, “We lit Diwali lamps on display in the Governor’s Mansion. We discussed Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi’s visit to Texas. We celebrated the victory of light over darkness.”
Another of the Republican Congressman Pete Olson, who is from Texas tweeted saying that they are celebrating Diwali in the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. In the celebrations around in 2017, the lighting of the ceremonial diya was hailed as a mode of tribute paid to the Indian community for their contributions.
Trump further stated saying, “You have made extraordinary contributions to art, science, medicine, business and education. America is especially thankful for its many Indian-American citizens who serve bravely in our armed forces and as first responders in communities throughout our great land.”
Even in both the celebrations of Diwali in two of the years, President Trump emphasised on the friendly relations they have with PM Narendra Modi. He showed his gratitude saying that he’s very grateful for the friendship that he has with the Indian Prime Minister.
Apart from Diwali, there have also been Vijaya Dashami celebrations across 35 locations in America initiated by a non-profit organization.
With the consistent years coming along, how the Diwali celebrations in the White House go this year is a thing that every person is looking forward to experience.
By Somapika Dutta
