By Geeta Goindi
WASHINGTON, November 7, 2026 – President Donald Trump hosted a Diwali celebration in the Oval Office on Friday afternoon, lighting a traditional diya in the presence of prominent Indian-American business executives, entrepreneurs, cultural personalities and senior administration officials.
The event, held behind closed doors, brought together distinguished members of the Indian diaspora to mark the Festival of Lights, which symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra was among the dignitaries attending the ceremony, reflecting the longstanding cultural ties between the two countries.
Senior administration officials at the event included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FBI Director Kash Patel, National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Arjun Mody, Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration.
A Sacred Gift and a Message of Friendship
A particularly meaningful moment came when health-tech entrepreneur Vishal Gondal presented Trump with a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa, a revered Hindu devotional hymn composed by the 16th-century poet-saint Tulsidas in praise of Lord Hanuman.
The sacred text, recited by millions of devotees, is associated with courage, devotion and strength.
Sharing photographs and reflections from the Oval Office on social media platform X, Gondal described the occasion as “A moment of shared light.”
“Honored to celebrate Diwali with President @realDonaldTrump and proud to gift him with a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa, Tulsidas’s hymn to Lord Hanuman that millions of us recite for courage, devotion and strength,” he wrote.
The entrepreneur also expressed his hopes for stronger relations between India and the United States.
“As the diyas were lit, my prayer was for friendship between India and America, and for the triumph of light over darkness,” he said.
Gondal invoked the traditional Indian blessing Jug Jug Jiyo, meaning “may you live for ages,” extending its message of goodwill beyond the festivities.
“It is the wish behind everything I do, and today I made it for everyone around the world: peace, prosperity, good health and longevity,” he wrote.
For Gondal, the experience was deeply personal.
“Never imagined celebrating Diwali in the Oval Office with President @realDonaldTrump,” he shared in another post.
Thanking the President for welcoming the guests, he described the occasion as “A memory I’ll always treasure.”
In a separate reflection, Gondal recalled the unexpected journey that brought him to the White House.
“Take the path less travelled. Push the boundaries. You never know where it might lead,” he wrote. “This Diwali, it led me to the White House.”
He also shared a photograph of a commemorative Trump coin he received during the visit, describing it as a keepsake of the occasion.
Prominent Business and Cultural Figures
The celebration drew leading figures from the technology, business and cultural sectors.
Among them were IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna, Micron Technology President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, Knack Systems founder and CEO Rajiv Sharma, and Viswajith Mallampati, president of Keshavam DC.
Other guests included Michelin-starred celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, former Canadian parliamentarian Ruby Dhalla, and longtime White House Events Usher Arvind Chadha.
Dhalla is president and CEO of the Dhalla Group of Companies, while Gondal is the founder and CEO of GOQii Technologies, a digital health and wellness company.
A White House Tradition Spanning More Than Two Decades
Diwali celebrations at the White House date back to 2003, when President George W. Bush’s administration established the tradition of officially recognizing the festival.
The early ceremonies were held primarily at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, with Indian-American community leaders and diplomats participating.
In 2009, President Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to personally light a diya at a White House Diwali ceremony, held in the East Room. In 2016, he made history again by lighting the first-ever diya in the Oval Office, expressing hope that future presidents would continue the tradition.
During his first term, Trump hosted White House Diwali celebrations in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and issued a presidential greeting in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following his return to office, he marked the festival in the Oval Office in October 2025, with Ambassador Kwatra and Indian-American leaders in attendance.
This year’s observance continued a tradition that has become an important symbol of cultural recognition at the highest levels of the US government.
For the Indian-American community, the occasion carries significance beyond the lighting of ceremonial lamps. It reflects the increasing visibility of a diaspora whose contributions span business, technology, medicine, public service and the arts, while celebrating traditions that remain an enduring part of its heritage.
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