Barack Obama celebrated Diwali by lighting the ceremonial lamp at the White House amidst chanting of Vedic mantras seeking world peace, becoming the first US President to celebrate the festival.

“I think it’s fitting that we begin this work in the week leading up to the holiday of Diwali — the festival of lights — when members of some of the world’s greatest faiths celebrate the triumph of good over evil,” Obama said.

“This coming Saturday, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, here in America and around the world, will celebrate this holiday by lighting diyas, or lamps, which symbolise the victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance,” said Obama at a ceremony in the East Room. Obama then lit the traditional lamp with a candle as a Hindu priest with a three-forked tilak on his forehead chanted “Asatoma Sadgamaya” (Lead us from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, from death to liberation) from the Upanishads.

Obama listened intently as the priest ended his invocation with “Om Shanti Shanti”, returned the priest’s namaste with folded hands and then shook his hands before leaving with greetings of “Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak” to everyone.

“Thank you Mr President for being the first president to come to the Diwali ceremony,” a journalist called out to Obama. “Yeah, isn’t that something?” the president shot back.

This is for the first time that a US President celebrated Diwali at the White House.

Pretty cool!