Diwali 2021 truly feels like a celebration of light over darkness and good over evil. First our prolonged battle with Covid-19 seems to be in a “management” phase, with a tremendously successful vaccine rollout effort by the Biden/Harris administration. With the vaccine being approved for children and booster doses recommended and available for all adults, we enjoyed meeting friends and celebrating again in person.
Secondly, we celebrated a year free from the chaos of the Trump administration, relieved to have leaders who believe in science and rely on experts again.
Diwali 2021 at the White House
To mark the occasion, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden lit a candle at the White House and wished all celebrants. “May the light of Diwali remind us that from darkness, there is knowledge, wisdom, and truth. From division, unity. From despair, hope,” Biden wrote. He added, “To Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists celebrating in America and around the world — from the People’s House to yours, happy Diwali.”
VP carries on a family tradition
"Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating the Festival of Lights here in the United States and around the world. @SecondGentleman and I extend our warmest wishes for a holiday filled with light, love, and prosperity," Vice-President Kamala Harris tweeted.
Staffers celebrate Diwali
Earlier, on October 27, 2021, several officials of the White House and US lawmakers celebrated Diwali with the Indian expats in Capitol Hill. "There has been a lot of darkness in the last 1.5 years. To be able to celebrate and talk about the meaning of Diwali, it's incredibly important," said Vice Admiral Surgeon Gen Vivek Murthy.
Diwali Day in the future?
The icing on the cake, or the varak on the barfi in this case (!) is that three Democratic members of the House of Representatives have announced plans to introduce legislation to make Diwali a federal holiday. It is proposed to be called the Deepavali Day Act. Imagine that!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Diwali and best wishes to all for the coming year from your friends and fellow political junkies at They See Blue!