Diwali Celebrations Obamas and Camerons join festivities
HINDUS throughout the world were joined by a number of heads of state in celebrating the festival of lights last week.
US first lady Michelle Obama lit a diya (lamp) in the East Room to start White House Diwali celebrations after trying some Bollywood dance moves with a few local students.
“We’ve celebrated this holiday here at the White House every year since Barack took office. And there’s a reason why we’ve done that,” she said, welcoming the guests, including members of the Indian community and Indian-American officials.
“It was the first time that we did Bollywood in the State Room here at the White House,” said the first lady, who had joined a dance number during Diwali celebrations in Mumbai during the Obamas’ visit to India in November 2010.
Joining the celebrations was her dance teacher, Nakul Dev Mahajan — in “his jeans and T-shirt now” — “from one of my favourite shows on the planet, So You Think You Can Dance”.
Also present was Indiaborn fashion designer Naeem Khan, who had designed Obama’s dress for the occasion.
“When we say that we want to make the White House the ‘people’s house’, we mean all people. We mean that we want to honour and embrace all of the many cultures and faith traditions that make us who we are as Americans. And Diwali is very much one of those traditions,” she said.
Britain’s first lady, Samantha Cameron, was the belle of celebrations in the UK in a burnt-red sari with gold trimming and a garland of paper flowers.
Husband David, wearing a very British navy suit, apologised that he was not in traditional Indian dress — although he was sporting a bindi — but said his wife looked “magnificent”.
The couple removed their shoes as a mark of respect before entering the Swaminarayan Mandir Temple in Neasden, northwest London.
The temple, the largest outside India, is sacred to thousands of British Hindus, Jains and Sikhs.
In Bollywood, there were several Diwali parties, including one hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.
Shahrukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif were in attendance.
The 71-year-old took to his blog, srbachchan. tumblr.com, to express his gratitude to his guests.
“What was the joy, of course, was the coming over of the entire fraternity in their traditional best to bring in the greetings, to join in with us at the house and spend this large amount of time in the glory and the warmth of the festival in celebration,” Bachchan posted.
Among other guests were Anushka Sharma, Farah Khan, Neha Dhupia, Divya Dutta and Sonu Sood.
“It was wonderful to see all from Shahrukh to Katrina to Anushka to Ranbir and everyone, all . . . relaxed and in comfort of the auspicious moment, in the comfort of each other, of their laughter and camaraderie . . . a warmth in my heart,” Bachchan added.
Other stars who hosted parties included Anil Kapoor, Aditya Chopra, Aamir Khan and Sohail Khan.