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| Obama Celebrates Diwali at White House | | By FROM NEWS DISPATCHES | | | indiawest.com | October 22, 2009 03:23:00 PM |
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Surrounded by Indian Ambassador Meera Shanker, visiting Indian Minister of Commerce Anand Sharma and prominent Indian Americans from around the country, President Barack Obama celebrated Diwali Oct. 14 at the White House, using the occasion to sign an executive order establishing a White House advisory panel on Asian Americans and Pacific Islander community.
The commission, which was created by a White House initiative signed by former President Bill Clinton ten years ago, will be comprised of 20 members from a wide range of government agencies, and will be directed to conduct a two-year study of how to assist Asian Americans.
 As the first American president to celebrate Diwali in the East Room of the White House, Obama lit a ceremonial lamp while Pandit Narayanacharya Digalakote from the Sri Shiva Vishnu temple in Maryland chanted Vedic mantras seeking world peace.
"I think it's fitting that we begin this work in the week leading up to the holiday of Diwali - the festival of lights - when members of some of the world's greatest faiths celebrate the triumph of good over evil," Obama told the gathering.
"This coming Saturday, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, here in America and around the world, will celebrate this holiday by lighting 'diyas', or lamps, which symbolize the victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance," he added.
“And while this is a time of rejoicing, it's also a time for reflection, when we remember those who are less fortunate and renew our commitment to reach out to those in need.”
The event was primarily organized by Kalpen Modi, better known to the Indian American community as Hollywood actor Kal Penn and currently associate director of the Office of Public Engagement at the White House.
Among the invited guests were Dr. Rajwant Singh, national chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, and Jasjit Singh Kalra, an official of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Preeta Bansal, Vivek Kundra, Aneesh Chopra and Ro Khanna and many other Indian Americans appointed by Obama were also present.
Taking part in the celebrations were nearly half a dozen members of Obama’s Cabinet as well as Congressmen Mike Honda and Jim McDermott. While former President George W. Bush started the tradition of celebrating Diwali at the White House, he never personally participated in the celebrations, leaving it to his top administration officials to grace the occasion.
In a separate Web video that aired Oct. 16, Obama declared that while Diwali is a time for celebration, “it is also a time for contemplation, when we remember those who are less fortunate: those who may not be eating as heartily or celebrating as festively; those who don’t enjoy the same rights to speak and worship freely and make of their lives what they wish. Our hearts are with them — not just today, but every day.”
The White House AAPI advisory panel, according to the Executive Order, "will work to improve the quality of life and opportunities for AAPIs through increased access to, and participation in, federal programs in which they may be underserved. In addition, each will work to advance relevant evidence-based research, data collection, and analysis for AAPI populations and subpopulations." It will be housed under the Department of Education to be co-chaired by Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan and Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, and by a yet-to-be-named executive director. |
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