Dance and diplomacy: US envoy Eric Garcetti celebrates Diwali with Bollywood flair | India News
NEW DELHI: The United States Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, showcased his dancing skills once again at the US embassy‘s Diwali celebrations on Wednesday, delighting attendees as he grooved to the popular Bollywood song “Tauba Tauba” from the film “Bad Newz”, which features actors Vicky Kaushal and Tripti Dimri.
In a video shared by ANI on X, Garcetti, 53, sported a brown kurta and stylish shades while dancing to the chartbuster.
This isn’t the first time Garcetti has taken to the dance floor during Diwali festivities. Last year, he entertained guests with a lively performance to the iconic song “Chaiyya Chaiyya,” originally released in 1998 and featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Malaika Arora.
Amidst the celebrations at the embassy, the White House also hosted a Diwali event, recognising the major contributions of Indian Americans to the US-India relationship. Ambassador Garcetti praised the occasion, underlining the importance of Diwali and the invaluable role of Indian Americans.
He posted on X, “What a beautiful celebration of Diwali at the @WhiteHouse! As we celebrate the journey of light, we also honor the invaluable contributions of Indian Americans who deepen the #USIndia bond.” He added, “From New Delhi to DC, may the light of Diwali illuminate every corner of the world and spread the message of peace and prosperity. #CelebrateWithUS #HappyDiwali.”
This year marks Joe and Jill Biden’s final Diwali celebration at the White House as President and First Lady.
The official White House account shared images from the festivities, captioning, “Happy Diwali from the White House! Together, may we show the power in the gathering of light.”
During the event, President Biden addressed the attendees, highlighting the impact of the South Asian American community on American society. “The South Asian American community has enriched every part of American life. Yours is the fastest-growing and most engaged community in the world… Now, Diwali is celebrated openly and proudly in the White House,” he said.
Biden also spoke about the challenges facing American democracy, acknowledging the debates that arise in a diverse society.
He emphasised the importance of unity, saying, “This is not my house; this is your house… Today we face an inflection point… Every once in a few generations, we are reminded not to take the Idea of America for granted. American democracy has never been easy. In a country as diverse as ours, we debate, we dissent… but the key is, we never lose sight of how we got here and why.”