Kamala Harris recollects fond memories of Diwali celebrations in India

US vice-president Kamala Harris told a gathering of more than 200 eminent Indian Americans about her visits to India during Diwali.

Published on: Oct 25, 2022, 08:29:29 IST

By HT News Desk | Edited by Kunal Gaurav

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

US vice president Kamala Harris on Monday recollected her fond memories of celebrating Diwali in India as she addressed a gathering of more than 200 eminent Indian Americans at a White House Diwali reception hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. (Also Read | Biden hosts biggest Diwali reception ever at White House)

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during an event to celebrate Diwali, in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, in Washington. (AP)

“I have such fond memories of celebrating Diwali as a child. Like many of you, we would go to India about every other year, avoiding the monsoon season, and we would go for Diwali. I have such fond memories of waking up in the middle of the night, me and my sister Maya, and going, of course, to the eldest in our family, which was our grandfather," she recalled.

“And later in the day, my mother would give us little sparklers and we would go into the streets to celebrate this very important occasion.”

The US vice-president described Diwali as a “holiday of hope” and said the festival helps one to see light in the world, in each other and in oneself.

“We also are reminded to shine our light in the darkness to fight for peace, for justice, for understanding.”

“Even as powerful forces work to sow hate and divide, we remember that in these moments where we see darkness, our light shines the brightest. That is part of what reminds us of Diwali. In moments of darkness, we see the light,” she said.

On Friday, Harris hosted more than 100 Indian Americans at her US Naval Observatory residence for Diwali celebrations.

Biden also recollected the Diwali reception he had hosted at the Vice President's Naval Observatory in late November 2016.

“It was the first Diwali reception ever to be held there. I'm an Irish Catholic and opening our home for holidays, observed by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs… that night we were joined by Muslims, Christians and people representing diversity and diaspora here in America from all over the world, including the then newly elected Indian American members of Congress, two of whom are here today, Ro (Khanna) and Raja (Krishnamoorthi),” he said.

(With PTI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.