Trump celebrates Diwali with traditional rituals, celebrity chef Khanna

Donald Trump hosted a Diwali celebration that incorporated traditional Hindu customs and religious observances. The event featured the lighting of diyas, the traditional oil lamps central to Diwali festivities, and included recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa, a revered devotional text in Hinduism.

Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, known for his prominence in international cuisine and culinary advocacy, was present at the gathering. Khanna, who has worked to promote Indian gastronomy on the global stage, has previously engaged with high-profile figures in the United States.

The celebration reflects growing recognition of Diwali among prominent American figures and institutions. The festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains across India and the diaspora, has increasingly become acknowledged in international circles.

Trump's observance of the festival adds to instances of American political leaders and public figures marking Diwali in recent years, underscoring the festival's cultural significance among Indian-American communities.