Indian-Americans hail Obama for celebrating Diwali in White House

Barack Obama, who became the first US President to celebrate Diwali in the White House, has won praise from the Indian-American community which said that his gesture demonstrated his commitment towards diversity and inclusiveness.

Barack Obama, who became the first US President to celebrate Diwali in the White House, has won praise from the Indian-American community which said that his gesture demonstrated his commitment towards diversity and inclusiveness.

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"It is indeed a historic occasion. All the credit should be given to Obama for officially bringing Diwali to the White
House," said Shambhu Banik, an eminent Indian-American leader based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Though it was the Bush Administration which started the practice of celebrating Diwali, the event always took place in
the Indian Treaty Room in a building annexed to the White House.

Bush himself never attended the Diwali function, which was always graced by a senior member of the administration and
Indian-American community members were invited to the occasion.

On Wednesday, Obama gave a global dimension to Diwali by inviting people from across various faiths and Asian
countries. At least half a dozen members of his Cabinet along with almost all the Indian-Americans in his administration
attended the Diwali function held in the historic East Room of the White House.

Obama himself lit the traditional 'diya' amidst chanting of Vedic mantras.