Indian-Americans hail Obama for celebrating Diwali in White House- Hindustan Times: Barack Obama, who became the first US President to celebrate Diwali in the White House, has won praise from the Indian-American community which said that his gesture demonstrated his commitment towards diversity and inclusiveness.
'It is indeed a historic occasion. All the credit should be given to Obama for officially bringing Diwali to the White
House,' said Shambhu Banik, an eminent Indian-American leader based in Bethesda, Maryland.
Though it was the Bush Administration which started the practice of celebrating Diwali, the event always took place in
the Indian Treaty Room in a building annexed to the White House.
