Astronaut Suni Williams, Surgeon General Murthy headline Diwali at the White House

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President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed hundreds of Indian Americans to the White House Monday, October 28, hailing the start of the Festival of Lights- Diwali – which has now become an annual tradition. It was first held at the White House by President George W. Bush, and is a bipartisan event observed by both Republican and Democratic administrations. This year, Diwali was to begin on October 31.

According to news reports, some 600 guests attended the occasion, and the President conducted the lamp lighting ceremony to begin the festivities. He was introduced by one of the attendees.

It was a sea of phones upheld by attendees trying to capture the moments. The guests included administration officials of Indian descent, elected officials like the Indian American members of Congress, and prominent community leaders, as well as others. Many came in silk sarees and other Indian dresses, to the event which was held in the chandeliered East Room of the White House.

One of the major highlights of the event was Indian American astronaut, Commander Sunita Williams, joining the festivities from the International Space Station.  “She spoke to the White House crowd via a recorded message from 420 kilometers (260 miles) above the Earth,” VOA noted.

“On this day, I specifically think about my father, who immigrated to the U.S. from India,” she said. “He kept and shared his cultural roots by teaching us about Diwali and other Indian festivals. Diwali is a time of joy, as goodness in the world prevails. I am so thankful to have grown up in a multicultural household where our parents encouraged us to seek opportunities and reach for the stars.” Williams’ father is of Indian origin and her mother immigrated from Slovenia.

The notable absence of Vice President Kamala Harris, was pointed out by the President. Harris is out on the campaign trail as just a few days are left for the Nov. 6 elections. She is the daughter of late Dr. Shyamala Gopalan, a cancer researcher, who immigrated to the US for higher studies, a point to which the President drew attention.

“One of the things we bonded over was the role each of our mothers played in our lives,” Biden said in his speech, available on YouTube and the White House site. “They come from different places, different generations, different lives, but they shared a basic belief about America: Only in America is anything possible. Only in America.”

“Diwali is celebrated openly and proudly here in the White House,” he said. “And by the way, this is not my house. This is your house,” Biden said.

At one point during his speech, President Biden greeted two children, Soren and Zara, the son and daughter of Congressman Ro Khanna, D-California, brought to the stage, and he held their hands and raised them up.

Among the numerous high-profile attendees was US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who was the first to address the large gathering. He spoke about his own parents and their beliefs when they immigrated to the country.

“That is the message of Diwali,” Murthy is quoted saying, adding, “Choose light always, whatever the future may bring. Whatever the future may bring, it is our light and our fierce commitment to one another that will see us through to a better day.”