Diwali 2024: White House plays 'Om Jai Jagdish Hare' during celebrations, viral video wins hearts (WATCH)
By Sunita Iyer | First Published Oct 31, 2024, 1:26 PM ISTThe White House military band played the devotional song "Om Jai Jagdish Hare" during Diwali 2024 celebrations at US President Joe Biden's official residence.
US President Joe Biden recently celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights, with an event at the White House that included Indian American politicians and dignitaries. The highlight of the occasion was a heartwarming performance by the White House military band, which played the traditional aarti "Om Jai Jagdish Hare." A video of the performance has gone viral on social media, showcasing the band members skillfully synchronizing on piano, sitar, violin, and drums, much to the delight of attendees.
The White House was beautifully adorned with marigolds in honour of the celebration, creating a festive atmosphere. Gita Gopinath, the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), expressing her appreciation for the musical tribute: “Wonderful to hear the White House military band play Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare for Diwali. Happy Diwali.”
Wonderful to hear the White House military band play Om Jai Jagdeesh Hare for Diwali. Happy Diwali 🪔 pic.twitter.com/lJwOrCOVpo
— Gita Gopinath (@GitaGopinath)Latest Videos
The video quickly garnered attention, amassing over 45,000 views and a flurry of positive reactions. Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej commented on the performance, stating, "Nicely done! great arrangement, and the violinist did all the glissandos pretty well."
Other viewers echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the unifying spirit of Diwali. One user remarked, “Diwali truly transcends borders, uniting people globally in the spirit of light and harmony. Happy Diwali to all!”
In his address to the attendees, President Biden emphasized the significance of Diwali celebrations at the White House. “As President, I have been honored to host the biggest Diwali receptions ever at the White House. To me, it means a great deal. As Senator, Vice President, and President, South Asian Americans have been key members of my staff,” he stated.
Here's a look at how netizens reacted to the viral video on X:
Waaah ❤️ https://t.co/AnQqGdiX6k
— Ankur Patel (@Seldomcooker1)Lovely to start the day listening to this https://t.co/vmRDOKDiL3
— Medha Hazari (@HazariMedha)Very Interesting Aarti theme being played by the . Thank you for sharing . Happy Diwali to all🪔 https://t.co/wrYnmcc2gS
— MTRS (@ManishguptaMk)This is beautiful https://t.co/eJuYJ4MkLd
— 🇮🇳Avi (@africanshiva)This is power of demography. For impact, numbers matter. https://t.co/ECybs3AgXw
— Amit Arora ਅਮਿਤ ਅਰੋੜਾ (@MoodOfIndia)We're witnessing it all.
Economic Growth ✅
Diplomatic Power ✅
Sporting Success ✅
This is the cultural rise of India! 💪 https://t.co/tJczTg9jpl
The most satisfying today. A quartet of whites playing Om Jai Jagdish, on this Diwali day. https://t.co/XuvBj3c1sa
— the RANJEET (@Ranjeet_Mahtani)Nice
Would've been nicer if all the Desis would've joined in the Aarti & not merely chatted around.
That would have been a really impactful moment. https://t.co/SGMsqklZ4I
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