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A Diya in the Oval Office: Trump Celebrates India’s Festival of Lights

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President Donald Trump Celebrates Diwali at the White House, Lighting a Diya in the Oval Office

President Donald J. Trump participates in a Diwali ceremonial lighting of the Diya in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian). [File Photo]

Washington, D.C., November 7, 2026 — US President Donald Trump celebrated Diwali at the White House on Friday, November 6, joining members of the Indian-American community, senior administration officials, diplomats and prominent business leaders for a special celebration of the Festival of Lights.

The celebration took place in the iconic Oval Office, where President Trump participated in the traditional lighting of a diya, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.

The gathering brought together several distinguished personalities, including India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra; US Secretary of State Marco Rubio; FBI Director Kash Patel; celebrity chef Vikas Khanna; IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna; Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra; and US National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya.

Flowers are set ahead of the Diwali celebration at the White House. (Official White House Photo).

Hanuman Chalisa Presented to President Trump

A special moment during the celebration was when Indian entrepreneur Vishal Gondal, founder and CEO of GOQii Technologies, presented a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa to President Trump.

Sharing photographs of the occasion, Gondal described it as a moment of shared light in the Oval Office. He said the lighting of the diyas would symbolize friendship between India and the United States, along with prayers for peace, prosperity, good health, and longevity.

The presentation of the devotional hymn, attributed to the 16th-century poet Tulsidas and dedicated to Lord Hanuman, added a distinctive cultural and spiritual dimension to the celebration.

Dancers for the Diwali celebration perform along the Cross Hall, at the White House.(Official White House Photo by Carlos Fyfe). [File Photo]

A White House Tradition Celebrating Indian Heritage

Diwali celebrations at the White House date back to 2003, when President George W. Bush began hosting celebrations that recognize the festival and engage with members of the Indian-American community.

In 2009, President Barack Obama became the first US President to light a traditional diya at the White House during a Diwali celebration in the East Room.

Since then, successive administrations have continued the tradition, making Diwali an occasion to recognize Indian Americans’ cultural contributions and the importance of religious and cultural diversity in American society.

Flowers are set ahead of the Diwali celebration at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Cameron Smith).

Celebrating the Spirit of India–US Friendship

The 2026 celebration once again brought India’s rich cultural heritage into the heart of American presidential life.

Indian-American leaders, entrepreneurs, technology executives, and public officials participated, reflecting the community’s presence across various spheres of American society.

Beyond its ceremonial significance, lighting the Diya offered a symbolic reminder of Diwali’s universal values: hope, knowledge, compassion, harmony, and the enduring triumph of light over darkness.

As diyas illuminate homes and communities worldwide, the White House celebration offered another opportunity to acknowledge the festival’s international reach and its enduring message of peace, prosperity, and goodwill.

Happy Diwali!