US vice president Kamala Harris on Monday recollected her fond memories of celebrating Diwali in India as she addressed a gathering of more than 200 eminent Indian Americans at a White House Diwali reception hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
The US vice-president described Diwali as a “holiday of hope” and said the festival helps one to see light in the world, in each other and in oneself.
Kamala Harris Diwali Celebration
Harris had on Friday hosted more than 100 Indian Americans at her residence for Diwali celebrations. She not only decorated the entire Naval Observatory residence with diyas, but also lit little sparklers with the guests.
Born to an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, Harris is the first Indian-origin vice president of the US. She recollected her frequent visits to Chennai as a child and celebrating Diwali with her grandparents.
“I have such fond memories of celebrating Diwali as a child. Like many of you, we would go to India about every other year, avoiding the monsoon season, and we would go for Diwali. I have such fond memories of waking up in the middle of the night, me and my sister Maya, and going, of course, to the eldest in our family, which was our grandfather.
“And later in the day, my mother would give us little sparklers and we would go into the streets to celebrate this very important occasion,” she recalled.
In her address during the White House celebration, she said, “We also are reminded to shine our light in the darkness to fight for peace, for justice, for understanding.”
“Even as powerful forces work to sow hate and divide, we remember that in these moments where we see darkness, our light shines the brightest. That is part of what reminds us of Diwali. In moments of darkness, we see the light,” she said.
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