Washington: Diwali is a universal concept that transcends cultures, Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday opened her official residence for several Indian-Americans to celebrate the festival of lights. The Naval Observatory – the Vice President’s official residence – was decorated with colorful lights and diyas (earthen lamps), while guests were served a variety of authentic Indian dishes ranging from ‘pani puri’ to traditional sweets, to community leaders who participated Had taken. incident, said.
Diwali is a universal concept that transcends cultures. It’s about being inspired by the relevance of light over darkness and shedding light in moments of darkness, Harris told the gathering of more than a hundred Indian Americans. “As Vice President, I think about it a lot because we are not without great challenges in our country and the world. And these are moments when a festival like Diwali reminds us of the importance of our power to bring light. dark moments,” she said.
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Invited guests from different parts of the country were greeted with Happy Diwali with Harris and the Second Gentleman and wished each other ‘Happy Diwali’. Earlier, a group of young dancers enthralled the guests by performing on popular Bollywood hits like ‘Jai Ho’ and ‘Om Shanti’.
The spark of joy at the Naval Observatory @VPDiwali Celebration! pic.twitter.com/zingnCuQNm— Lillian Sanchez (@lilliansanchez46) 21 October 2022
Recalling his childhood days of celebrating with his grandparents in Chennai, Harris said Diwali is all about tradition. “It’s about culture. It’s about an age-old concept that transcends cultures and communities. It’s about the point of reflection and the moment of reflection that the duality of life in terms of the balance between darkness and light.” considers. And to celebrate the light. In this way, to think about what is our role and what should be our role in bringing us out of darkness, guided by the light,” she said.
“Over the years, we have experienced a lot of what is trying to divide powerful forces, trying to focus on what they would suggest are inequalities when we all know that in us What sets us apart is much more than what most have in common,” she said.
“There are moments in our country right now where there are people fighting against democratic principles. The principles on which our nation was founded. Principles like freedom, liberty,” he said.
“And in these moments where we all have a deep awareness of injustice and injustice, let us be guided by our knowledge that this is not new, there will be moments, but that we have the power to make a difference and that any moment To elevate in a way that we can feel and see the future and possibility and everything bright that the world allows when we have the ability to believe in it,” Harris said.
Among those in attendance were several Indian American members of the Biden-Harris administration, including Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, Special Adviser to the President Neera Tandon and Biden’s speechwriter Vinay Reddy. Former US Ambassador to India Rich Verma was also present at the Diwali celebrations.
Social activist MR Rangaswamy, Founder of Indiaspora.
Rangaswamy said, “As an American, I am proud to see festivals of all religions mainstreaming. It is diversity. Diwali has really become a mainstream part of American culture.”
Ajay Jain Bhutoria, member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, said, “It was a memorable Diwali celebration, thanks to the Vice President and the second gentleman, with sumptuous food, Bollywood music and colorful decorations. Diwali Naval observatory with lights. The biggest surprise were the sparklers.”
Fabulous Diwali celebration at the residence of Vice President and Second Gentleman at Naval Observatory with Bollywood music, dance, fireworks, delicious food and beautiful decorations @VP Thank You ! @opalvadhan46 pic.twitter.com/FqeXomRwpr— Ajay Bhutoria (@ajinb) 22 October 2022
Bhutoria said, “The Vice President’s team has done an amazing job in organizing the Diwali event and bringing the community together. It sends a strong message that good always wins over evil and we should shine light in moments of darkness.” As the guests left the Naval Observatory, they were given specially crafted candles with the emblem of the office of the Vice President embossed.