Indians to light up Bush II White House

THE TIMES OF INDIA ^ | THE TIMES OF INDIA

[agneyen]

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2004 12:37:33 AM ] WASHINGTON: After the electoral fireworks, the light. Indian-Americans will have their first dibs in the Bush II White House at a Diwali celebration to be hosted by the President next week.

A tradition begun by the Bush I White House last year will be continued this year on November 10, when community elite will troop into 1600, Pennsylvania Avenue for the festival of lights.

Bush was not present last year - he was in Hawaii on his way back from a trip to East Asia - but community leaders hope he will be there this time to accept their felicitations on his stunning victory.

''Indian-Americans backed the President in a big way and we hope to congratulate him personally,'' Dr Sampath Shivangi, a Mississippi physician who was among those instrumental in getting the White House to host the event said. Last year's event was hosted by Bush's chief political strategist Karl Rove, who masterminded the President's victory this time too....

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/911161.cms

[julymoon]

Basically, Diwali is a festival of lights, the lit lamps serving as reminders that while we are each of us one light, if we stand together in unity we are as one bright, shining light. A rather beautiful thought. A day of fasting and prayer precedes the lighting of the lights, and feasting takes place a day afterwards. There are celebrations over the next few days, much like Hanuukah and Christmas, during which gifts are exchanged and sweet treats are baked and eaten, and people visit one another's homes for festivities and socializing. Everyone is expected to greet one another with compassion and care, as fostering these qualities towards one another is, ultimately, what Diwali is all about.

[No Blue States]

Indians celebrate Bush victory:(thanks India)