Washington: US President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump have celebrated Diwali in Oval Office of the White House along with senior Indian-American members of the Administration, including Nikki Haley and Seema Verma. Cabinet ranking Haley is US Ambassador to the UN and Seema Verma is the administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. According to the reports here, Ajit Pai, Chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission and Raj Shah his Principle Deputy Press Secretary were among those from the Trump Administration.
Last year, Ivanka Trump had visited Hindu temples in Virginia and Florida as part of Diwali. Trump, then as the Republican Presidential nominee, had addressed the Indian-American community from a public meeting in New Jersey wherein he lit the traditional 'Diya'. The tradition of Diwali celebration was first started by former President George Bush.
During his term, it was celebrated mostly in the India Treaty Room of the adjacent executive office building, which is part of the White House Complex. In the first year of his presidency, his successor Barack Obama lit the ceremonial Diya in the East Rook of the White House. Thereafter, he made it a point in celebrating the festival of lights in one way or the year. (UNI)
