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US DIWALI CELEBRATION: DECLARATION PUBLIC HOLIDAY ON DIWALI, CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY.
US Diwali
US Diwali celebration: After the declaration of public holiday on Diwali by president Joe Biden, the festival of light “Diwali” is gaining a lot of popularity and recognition in united states, with national commitment to celebrate cultural diversity.
Celebration at white house with Joe Biden.
The festival of light gained its recognition in US after joe Biden declared public holiday. In the same process Pennsylvania and 26 other states district passed the law and recognised it as school holiday.
More than 5 million American took part in this celebration this year. The president’s white house was also light up and he himself along with his wife light up candles. There were also small get together of 200 Indian and American people on the day on Diwali in white house.
Time square celebration on Diwali.
Many Indian singer and popular dancer light up the streets of time square with their performance and songs. Many people gather in the process of celebration and enjoyed the same.
Diwali in school and temples of US.
Many public-school kids celebrated Diwali with dance performance, lighting up of Diya or candles, prayers and story about the significates of Diwali. They also saw act on Diwali celebration like puppet shows and learn few Hindi words.
Local temple in US also had a major celebration by cultural dance and songs. There were also lighting up of candles and Diya with puja in the temple Premises.
Past years Diwali celebration in US.
The tradition of Diwali was started by George W Bush in 2003 in the White House after the singing of Indian Treaty Room with India.
The tradition continued by Barack and Michelle Obama in 2009, the even called a Hindu priest for prays at White House. He also stated the tradition of lighting of Diya in the “Oval office” in 2016.
In 2017 Donald Trump also celebrated Diwali with lighting up of candles with his family and Indian American members of administration.
In 2022 and 2023 also there was a major celebration at White House hosted by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris respectively.
This year the celebration became even more grand after declaration and celebration of Diwali holiday all over US by Joe Biden.
Report By: Enakshi Dasgupta
