Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A presidential diwali
Amidst sacred chants, a diya was lit. But this simple act, repeated across the world as Hindus celebrated Diwali, was so much more special. This was at the White House, and it was none other than President Obama who was lighting the diya. It was historic and it was a first.
On Oct. 14, in the East Room of the White House, Obama lit a ceremonial lamp in the presence of 200 Asian Americans, with a Hindu priest chanting sacred lines from the Upnishadas.
It was the first time that a U.S. president attended Diwali celebrations at the White House.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
On Oct. 14, in the East Room of the White House, Obama lit a ceremonial lamp in the presence of 200 Asian Americans, with a Hindu priest chanting sacred lines from the Upnishadas.
It was the first time that a U.S. president attended Diwali celebrations at the White House.
To read the full article, click here...
To read the ePaper, visit: http://www.newsindia-times.com
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I had a great time reading around your post as I read it extensively. I am looking forward to hearing more from you.
Regards,
Gold
Regards,
Gold
It was President George Bush who started the tradition of celebrating Diwali, he never personally joined the festivities in the Indian Treaty Room in the Old Executive Office Building, next to the main White House.
Obama then lit the ceremonial lamp with a candle as a Hindu priest with a three-forked tilak on his forehead chanted "Asatoma Sadgamaya" (Lead us from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to liberation) from the Upanishads.
Obama listened intently as the priest ended his invocation with "Om Shanti Shanti", returned the priest's namaste with folded hands and then shook his hands before leaving with greetings of "Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak" to everyone.
"Thank you Mr President for being the first president to come to the Diwali ceremony," a journalist called out to Obama. "Yeah, isn't that something?" the president shot back.
Obama's White House also did not forget to leave the traditional box of Indian sweets on some 150 chairs for the guests.
The half-hour East Room celebration was attended by a crowd of Indians and other Asians. India's Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and Ambassador Meera Shankar dropped by, and several Indian-Americans in administrative positions in Washington attended.
Before the Diwali ceremony, Obama signed an executive order re-establishing the president's advisory committee and White House initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, first established by President Bill Clinton and extended by President Bush until 2007. ----Sources engagevoter.com
Obama then lit the ceremonial lamp with a candle as a Hindu priest with a three-forked tilak on his forehead chanted "Asatoma Sadgamaya" (Lead us from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to liberation) from the Upanishads.
Obama listened intently as the priest ended his invocation with "Om Shanti Shanti", returned the priest's namaste with folded hands and then shook his hands before leaving with greetings of "Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak" to everyone.
"Thank you Mr President for being the first president to come to the Diwali ceremony," a journalist called out to Obama. "Yeah, isn't that something?" the president shot back.
Obama's White House also did not forget to leave the traditional box of Indian sweets on some 150 chairs for the guests.
The half-hour East Room celebration was attended by a crowd of Indians and other Asians. India's Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and Ambassador Meera Shankar dropped by, and several Indian-Americans in administrative positions in Washington attended.
Before the Diwali ceremony, Obama signed an executive order re-establishing the president's advisory committee and White House initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, first established by President Bill Clinton and extended by President Bush until 2007. ----Sources engagevoter.com
I love to read interesting post that has knowledge to impart! Thank you for sharing your insights! I will avidly wait for your next blog entry.
Best regards,
Hydroponics
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Best regards,
Hydroponics
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