iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
The US Vice President Kamala Harris added a dash of color and festivities of Diwali at her official residence, the United States Naval Observatory, on Friday, October 21. Scores of Indian Americans attended the fun and festivities at the US VP’s official residence to celebrate the festival of lights.
Videos of the celebrations where Harris could be seen taking part in the celebrations along with members of the Indian American community went viral on social media. Prominent among those who took part in the celebrations were Neera Tanden, Vivek Murthy, Rich Verma, and Ajay Bhutoria.
Harris was seen lighting sparklers along with her husband, cheering and wishing each other “Happy Diwali.” The US Naval Observatory was decked up with decorative lights and diyas and the guests were served a wide variety of authentic Indian delicacies.
Bhutoria, who is on President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and an entrepreneur based in Silicon Valley, tweeted: “Awesome Diwali celebration at Vice President and second gentleman Home at Naval Observatory with Bollywood music, dance, fireworks, delicious food, and beautiful decorations @VP. Thank you!”
At the event, to set the mood and heighten the excitement building around the festivities, Harris said that the festival of Diwali is a universal concept that transcends cultures. Speaking about Diwali, Harris said: “It is about culture. It is an age-old concept that transcends cultures and communities. It is about a point of reflection and a moment of reflection to consider the duality of life in terms of the balance between darkness and light. And to celebrate the light. In that way, to think about what our role is and what our role should be in elevating us out of the darkness, guided by the light.”
“In the last few years, we have experienced a lot that has been about powerful forces trying to divide, trying to focus on what they would suggest are dissimilarities when we all know that the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us,” she added.
Harris was born in Oakland, California to parents who emigrated from India and Jamaica. Harris had graduated from Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of Law. Her mother was born in Chennai and had moved to the US to pursue a doctoral degree.
