Trump Would Celebrate Diwali Three Days Ahead In The White House
US President Donald Trump will celebrate Diwali in White House three days ahead of the festival. He would mark the beginning of Diwali festival in America by lighting a ceremonial “diya” on Thursday. No other details of the celebrations were shared by the White House spokesman.
Who started the tradition of celebrating Diwali in White House?
Barack Obama started the tradition of celebrating Diwali by lighting a ceremonial lamp in the US. It was in 2009 when Obama then the US President first lit a lamp to celebrate Diwali in his office. Trump is the second US president to celebrate the festival of lights in White House.
It is Trump’s third Diwali celebration in White House
Trump celebrated his first Diwali in 2017 in his Oval Office in the presence of a select group of Indian-American community leaders. He hailed the contribution of Indian community in the development of America after lighting the ceremonial lamp.
In 2018, Trump invited then Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna for Diwali celebrations. It is third time that Trump will celebrate Diwali by lighting a ceremonial lamp in White House. But it isn’t known whether he would invite members of Indian-American community.
Both in 2017 and 2018, Trump referred to his good friendship with Indian PM Narendra Modi while lighting the ceremonial lamp. It is to be seen how he addresses the Indian community in the US.
Meanwhile, Diwali celebrations in the US have already begun. The Indian-American community has started preparations for celebrating the festival of light.
Source: https://bit.ly/2pIOq2G