President Obama Offers Diwali Greeting

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
November 4, 2010

Statement by the President on Diwali

Tomorrow, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, here in America and around the world, will celebrate the holiday of Diwali -- the festival of lights. This is a day when members of some of the world's oldest religions celebrate the triumph of good over evil. Last year, I marked this holiday as many will this weekend -- by lighting the Diya, or lamp. This lamp symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

Diwali is a time for celebration, but it is also a time for reflection -- a time when we must remember that there are always others less fortunate then ourselves. This holiday reminds us all that we should commit ourselves to helping those in need. For many, this is also a time to gather with family and to pray. To those celebrating Diwali in India, I look forward to visiting you over the next few days. And to all those who will celebrate this joyous occasion on Friday, I wish you, your families and loved ones Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak.

Comments

[John Smith123]

11:44 PM on 11/06/2010

If you want to cut through the fluff and get to the core of religion with free mind, check the following:

The Path of Love - Osho

http://www.livingworkshop.net/PDF-files/The_Path_of_Love.pdf

[dorothy bnks]

06:12 PM on 11/06/2010

President Obama was a world traveler before he became president, thanks to his late mother. This president understands that America is no longer an island unto itself. At this time in our history we need a bright light to conquer the darkness hovering over this country.

Hate works best in the darkness. When light hits it, it screeches and screams in denial. We see the screechers and deniers everyday; particularly in politics and pseudo "third parties."

[just me123454321]

05:39 PM on 11/06/2010

Message to Obama,
Instead of bowing to an idol you need to be looking up to the One true God. It is Him you must fear and Him you must obey. Do you wish to please man or please God?

[LightShadow62]

07:32 PM on 11/06/2010

All praise Aqua Buddha!!!!

[CosmicIrony]

09:14 PM on 11/06/2010

It is unwise to fear the gods - it only tends to encourage them to be egotistical. I say this as a practicing pagan, by the way.

[theshortladders]

03:45 PM on 11/06/2010

I don't mind how he greets the world. Just please don't make those big mean extreme fundamentalists angry at us Mr. President. They have us by the business and we need to walk softly on eggshells so as not to make them angry. That should be our every waking thought. How can we appease the irrational. That's a winning proposition. No?

[Poorsarah]

05:15 AM on 11/06/2010

Before any trollz get jumpy...need I remind you that GW Bush held hands with, hugged, kissed, and embraced the King of Saudi Arabia...funny thing...most of the 9-11 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia...don't know if there is a connection, but that's mighty friendly to the Saudi king.

[Bob Kellerman]

04:40 PM on 11/06/2010

O bviosly there is something

I mportant about GWB that got

L ost in your translation

[Pranav1941]

01:36 AM on 11/06/2010

"Bachmann, Palin & Co will use this photo as PROOF that Obama is a Muslim."

He app-ears to prove the charge. Where does "Saal Mubharak" come in Diwali greetings?

[krish manohar]

05:05 PM on 11/06/2010

"Saal Mubharak" means "Happy New Year" in India as it comes right after Diwali

[Sajwert]

10:25 AM on 11/07/2010

@Pranav+ wrote: "Bachmann, Palin & Co will use this photo as PROOF that Obama is a Muslim."

Isn't Diwali a Hindu custom? How could that prove President Obama a Muslim?

Oh, Righto! They would not know the difference!

[agentklf]

03:54 PM on 11/05/2010

You can bet the Religious Right is gonna go nuts about this one... give it time.

[Tom Key]

11:52 PM on 11/05/2010

The "religious right" is strangely silent all of a sudden. Their intense vilifications are apparently part of our privatized political agenda paid for by the oligarchs. When the election is over, they stop paying for the vilification and glory be it stops!

[PresidentRobertBooth]

03:28 PM on 11/05/2010

FOX Exclusive....Obama Bows To Muslim Fire Spirits!!!!!

[sandalwood]

06:41 PM on 11/05/2010

LOL

[Scentedflower]

03:12 PM on 11/05/2010

Many greetings to Hindu friends.
Hope we all learn & take the spirit that Good destroys E il with light, truth & knowledge.
How appropriate it is now & forever.

[sunshine14]

12:07 PM on 11/05/2010

Funny it was the same kind of human beings, who boasted of their self righteousness, that accused Christ falsely,instilling great great fear mongering of Christ, of not being a believer (not a Christian).

You will know them by their fruits. good or bad. Those who falsely accuse, judge others falsely, of not being Christian, never uses, verses of Holy Scripture, themselves do they, why? For those who judge others, falsely of not being a Christian, if they did use, Holy Scripture, verses, would it not CLEARLY identify, who they, ARE NOT, themselves? Yes you will know them by their fruits good or bad.

Palin? Bachmann?, I ask would they, not like Christ either? For Christ was a good socialist? Do onto others what you would want done unto you. Christ said. Stop your judging. Feed my sheep.

[Pandoras Folly]

02:36 PM on 11/05/2010

Jesus what you offer is too frightening to people. You offer them freedom, liberation, the undoing of the chains which bind them. They are frightened by this as they should be, the chains have become comfortable, the caluses they cause a virtue to posses, without them the world will be impossibly large and frigntening. How they define, the world, their actions, and most importantly themselves will be forever changed. Throwing them into the light thusly is a cruelty of you. Let them keep their chains, let them be the beasts of burden they believe themselves to be.

[wolfiegirl]

10:59 AM on 11/05/2010

Bachmann, Palin & Co will use this photo as PROOF that Obama is a Muslim. Mark my words. And there are many out there who will believe them.

[Chris L Johnson]

11:39 AM on 11/05/2010

I agree, even though this holiday and that picture have nothing to do with Islam, but rather Hinduism!

[anitaj]

04:36 PM on 11/05/2010

Facts do not seem to influence that bunch.

[llisa]

03:38 AM on 11/06/2010

Don't know that it matters. Hindu doctors in my town saw a HUGE drop in their patient loads after 9-11.

[naschkatze]

01:06 PM on 11/05/2010

True.

[sunshine14]

09:57 AM on 11/05/2010

Rather I think the amount of money spent with Republicans wealthy tax cuts, defined to create jobs here at home, was a massive failure, costing $trillion of lost revenues, jobs, when all was moved over seas, on Republican watch for the last 8 years, right?. Thank God Pres Obama is going over there, in Asia to bring companies back home, bringing 2,000 business men, to promote that.

God said: Put your sights on what is above, for all that is below is a illusion of deception,of products I ask, like wealthy tax cuts given would create jobs?But proof, facts, can be seen and felt, wealthy tax cuts, results, instead, lost lost millions of jobs, 10s of thousands of companies all moved over seas, right?

[jphillips021370]

10:51 AM on 11/05/2010

Where in the Bible is the following statement made?
THis is not a challenge, but I sincerely want to know.

"Put your sights on what is above, for all that is below is a illusion of deception"

[mustardhead98]

09:46 AM on 11/05/2010

The amount of money spent so Obama and his family can view the festival of lights and check in with his old mates in Malaysia is disgusting.....think of how much good could be done for troops or for jobs with that cash.....experts are already saying it's a pointless trip and won't do anything to help the US economy.

[sunshine14]

12:29 PM on 11/05/2010

republicans I ask do they care how much money is being wasted on wealthy tax cuts? Waste of $4 Billion spent in campaign elections, getting ready to start over over again for 2012? why Christ had no palls period in Government? Only self interest? A Nation the richest in the world, sending man to the moon, yet cannot come together to solve the economy crises, Where banks? Wall Street? got richer, in this economy crises, while 97% of its own citizens suffer? Greed? Issiah: Shepherds, dogs, who never have enough. Why Christ over 2,000 years ago, knew what was going on behind closed doors, rebuked, knew what was coming. beware of the soothsayers?, moneychangers?.

I ask why God said. On the day of my wrath, I will gather All Leaders of All Nations, on the day of my wrath. All means ALL, us to. Greed in the end destroys themselves? God names them "Leaders' . Feed my sheep.

[RJ1008]

01:03 PM on 11/05/2010

Festival of lights with his old mates in Malaysia? See this is the problem with illiterates like you. Diwali is a Hindu festival, that is celebrated in India. What it has to do with Malaysia? It's so insulting when I see fellow citizens don't even know the basics of world geography and which religious people exist in which country. You can't fight stupidity. That is the main problem in this country now.

Anyway, did you show the same concern when we are wasting trillions of dollars in these wars?
A President goes on a state visit to conduct state business. India is about to open it's defense sector for private partnership and it is about to order hundreds of billions of dollar worth defense equipment. Obama is going to there to sing these agreements and that will help thousands of new jobs here. Got that.

I think these half literate tea party/GOP people should stop waving the constitution and go back to school to learn some basics first. It is also a cure for their bigotry against non-whites.

[mustardhead98]

04:17 PM on 11/05/2010

Speaking of ijjits....he's going to Malaysia to visit his buds AFTER the festival of lights in India....sorry-your big rant about conservatives makes YOU look the fooool. Haha.

[mustardhead98]

04:18 PM on 11/05/2010

Oh and your progressive talking point saying we are all ra ci sts is, well, getting a tad tired....find a new talking point please....

[HeyTheist]

04:11 AM on 11/05/2010

NOOOOOO!! How could he offer a Diwali greeting? That is blasphemy! I want him excommunicated and impeached; NOW!

[merlinspinoza]

03:40 AM on 11/05/2010

something for the president to fortify himself with on his holiday in asia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg88CknV1zY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c33Co-N55Wg
this is kind of not very lively but nice