Obama observes diwali on white house
President Obama became the first president to light a ceremonial Diya at the White House to mark the observance of Diwali, the “festival of lights.” He also used the occasion to sign a new initiative aimed at expanding opportunities for Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage.
Diwali, holy to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, has a different significance to each faith, but the president said the lamps symbolize “the victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.” The festival is a time for both rejoicing and reflecting on the less fortunate, he said.
“In that spirit of celebration and contemplation, I am happy to light the White House Diya, and wish you all a Happy Diwali, and a Saal Mubarak,” he told White House guests at the October 14 ceremony.
The president then signed an executive order to set up a commission to find the most effective ways of helping Americans of East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian heritage, as well as descendants of Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.
There are “very real challenges” facing certain Asian-American communities, he said, such as having higher than average rates of diabetes and Hepatitis B, higher school dropout rates, low college enrollment rates, and economic disparities, particularly among those of Hmong, Cambodian and Malaysian descent. In addition, Obama said many continue to face language and workplace barriers, and have been victims of hate crimes.
The U.S. government can provide help, he said. For example, the Small Business Administration can offer loans to Asian-American entrepreneurs, the Department of Health and Human Services can fund research on the diseases that disproportionately affect them, and the Justice Department can uphold their right to vote, as well as provide language assistance at the polls. The two year commission will collect data on the many communities in order to find the most effective means of helping them.
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