President Obama to observe Diwali at the White House
Washington, 14 October 2009

On Wednesday, October 14, President Obama will sign an Executive Order restoring the White House Advisory Commission and Interagency Working Group to address issues concerning the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. At the East Room ceremony, the President will also observe Diwali, the Hindu "Festival of Lights," a holiday celebrated across many faiths. The ceremony will mark the first-time that the "Festival of Lights" is observed in The White House itself, the Bush Administration traditionally celebrated Diwali in the Indian Treaty Room in the Old Executive Office Building, next to the main White House.