President Joe Biden is set to celebrate Diwali on Monday evening at the White House with a large gathering of Indian-Americans from across the nation, marking this as his final Diwali celebration as President, according to a White House statement.
The event aims to honor Indian heritage and culture, highlighting the strengthening relationship between the United States and the Indian-American community.
Continuing the tradition from previous years, the President will light a Diya lamp in the Blue Room prior to delivering his remarks. He will then address the attendees at the reception he is hosting for Indian-Americans.
This will be President Biden’s last Diwali reception at the White House since he is not seeking re-election. Among his introductions will be a video message from Sunita Williams, a renowned NASA astronaut and retired Navy Captain, who recorded her greeting from the International Space Station (ISS), where she assumed command in September. Sunita Williams, a practicing Hindu, has previously shared Diwali greetings from space and has brought various Indian cultural items, such as samosas and copies of the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, to celebrate her heritage.
The event will also feature musical performances by Nootana, a classical South Asian dance and music ensemble from Washington, DC, as well as the Marine Corps Band. Last year, following the Diwali celebration, President Biden shared a video on the platform X, showing him and First Lady Jill Biden lighting a diya together. In his post, he reflected on Diwali’s message of promoting wisdom, love, and unity over hate and division, encouraging a collective embrace of the holiday’s spirit and the nation’s shared light.