Hindus laud Obama for celebrating Diwali in White House

October 15th, 2009 JAMMU/PUNE - Inmates of the Amphala district jail in Jammu are busy these days in making candles and wax lamps for the festival of lights 'Diwali'. The inmates, many of them former militants, are now working day and night to prepare different varieties of candles.

October 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Acknowledging the contributions made by more than 16 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to "build a strong and vibrant America", President Barack Obama has signed an Executive Order to address their concerns. Under the order signed at an event celebrating Diwali at the White House Wednesday, Obama will create an Advisory Commission and a White House Initiative on AAPI communities to help resolve their problems.

October 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Barack Obama lit a ceremonial Diwali lamp at the White House and wished everyone a "Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak" to become the first US president to personally join an event celebrating the Indian festival of lights. "This coming Saturday, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, here in America and around the world, will celebrate this holiday by lighting diyas, or lamps, which symbolise the victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance," said Obama at a ceremony in the East Room.

October 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Barack Obama lit a traditional silver Diwali lamp at the White House and wished everyone a "Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak" to become the first US president to personally join an event celebrating the Indian festival of lights. "This coming Saturday, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, here in America and around the world, will celebrate this holiday by lighting diyas, or lamps, which symbolise the victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance," said Obama at a ceremony in the East Room.

October 10th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Victorian Premier John Brumby assurance to the state's Indian community that the Government was taking steps to make its streets safer and more harmonious has been warmly received by the community. Brumby, who recently returned from a nine-day trip to India, has been constantly trying to clear growing doubts about Australia's image as an 'unsafe country' for Indians following a series of violent assaults on Indian students in the past few months.

October 10th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama will personally join members of the Asian American community to celebrate Diwali, 'the festival of lights', at the White House next week. "At the East Room ceremony, the president will observe Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, a holiday celebrated across faiths on Oct 14," the White House announced Friday.

October 9th, 2009 TORONTO - The Canadian parliament celebrated Diwali this week with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other top leaders lighting the traditional lamps. Immigration minister Jason Kenney, finance minster Jim Flaherty, public safety minister Peter Van Loan, parliamentary secretary Deepak Obhrai, opposition leader Jack Layton and parliamentarians were among the 450 dignitaries to attend the festivities Thursday night.

September 24th, 2009 KARACHI - With the beginning of the Indian festive season, Hindus in Pakistan have started preparations for the festivals of Navratri, Dushhera and Diwali, The Daily Times reports. "The nine nights are sanctified in the Hindu religion, during which Saraswati and Durga are worshipped," said Narain Maharaj, a Hindu cleric belonging to the Maheshwari Meghwar community.

September 14th, 2009 NEVADA - Hindus have urged New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia to add "Diwali" and "Holi" on the list of restricted trading days in the new law. Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA), said that Hindu workers in NSW would like to be home on these days to celebrate the festivals with their families, friends, and the community.

September 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama announced Friday he will publicize a list of most visitors to the White House to provide more information about who has access and influences policy. The move was meant to satisfy demands by watchdog groups who have insisted on greater public transparency about the role of lobbyists in decision-making.

July 7th, 2009 NEVADA - Hindus urged US President Barack Obama to put a Hindu temple also on his list, if possible, in case he decided to attend a number of different churches in rotation. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that President Obama was most welcome to visit any Hindu temple he selected in/around Washington DC.

July 2nd, 2009 ASTANA - Tensions exist between India's Muslims and Hindus because the two communities do not know enough about each other, an Indian delegate at the global faith conference here contended Thursday. "Yes, tensions do exist but they exist because Muslims and Hindus don't know about each other," Zafar Yunus Sareshwala, the CEO of Mumbai Stock Exchange-listed financial services provider Parsoli Corporation, maintained during the plenary on "Solidarity specially in the period of crisis", on the concluding day of the third Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions here.

May 13th, 2009 NEVADA - Hindus have applauded CBS Television Network for a special interfaith presentation "Faith, Music and Culture", to be broadcast on June seven. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that attempts of a major broadcasting network like CBS to bring major world religions together through music was an admirable feat.

May 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama, it seems, still needs to work on improving his Spanish, as he used the wrong word at the opening of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations at the White House. As he welcomed guests to observe the Mexican holiday, the US president called the event "Cinco de Cuatro" prompting giggles from the crowd before he corrected himself.

March 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama met with former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev here last Friday, the White House has confirmed. The meeting was not on Obama's official daily schedule.