US President Donald Trump celebrated Diwali in the Oval Office of the White House along with senior Indian-American members of the administration, including Nikki Haley, Seema Verma and community leaders.
Haley is US Ambassador to the UN and Seema Verma is administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Ajit Pai, Chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission and Raj Shah his Principal Deputy Press Secretary were among those from his administration.
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Daughter Ivanka Trump also joined the President in celebrating Diwali.
Last year Ivanka, who is now a presidential advisor, had visited Hindu temples in Virginia and Florida as part of Diwali.
Trump, then the Republican presidential nominee, had addressed the Indian-American community from a public meeting in New Jersey, where he lit the traditional diya.
The tradition of Diwali celebrations 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.
Bush never personally participated in the White House Diwali celebrations.
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 to celebrate the festival of lights every year.
(With inputs from PTI)
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