Indian-American Community News

03/29/2026

Washington's famed Cherry Blossom trees are in Peak Bloom ~

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is underway in DC, offering many events and activities to celebrate the Spring season!

The BloomFest Welcome Area at the Jefferson Memorial is open and for the next two weeks, visitors will find information tents, a performance stage, food and souvenir vendors, and the Junior Ranger Activity Tent.

Enjoy the nation's greatest Springtime event!

10/21/2025

Today, President Trump will lead a Diwali celebration in the Oval Office of the White House. Time is 4:00 pm. Tuesday, October 21, 2025

On Monday, President Trump conveyed his 2025 Diwali message:
"Today, I send my best wishes to every American celebrating Diwali—the 'Festival of Lights.'

For many Americans, Diwali is a timeless reminder of light’s victory over darkness. It is also a time to bring families and friends together to celebrate community, draw strength from hope, and embrace a lasting spirit of renewal. As millions of citizens light diyas and lanterns, we rejoice in the eternal truth that good will always triumph over evil.

To every American celebrating Diwali, may this observance bring abiding serenity, prosperity, hope, and peace".

Photo: President Trump lights the Diwali 'diya' (lamp) at the White House during his first term. Details are here:
https://indianamericancommunitynews.com/2018/11/13/president-trump-hosts-diwali-at-white-house-for-second-year-in-a-row/

https://americanbazaaronline.com/2018/11/14/trump-hosts-diwali-at-white-house-for-second-year-in-a-row-435653/

08/27/2025

Wishing our Readers a Blessed Ganesh Chaturthi ~

He exists in His creations

A look back at a Ganesha Festival in the Washington area:
https://indianamericancommunitynews.com/2017/08/25/ten-day-ganesha-festival-draws-devotees-to-workhouse-arts-center-in-virginia/

https://americanbazaaronline.com/2017/08/26/ganesha-festival-draws-devotees-to-workhouse-arts-center-in-virginia428354/

https://www.asianfortunenews.com/2017/08/ten-day-ganesha-festival-draws-devotees-to-workhouse-arts-center-in-virginia/

08/16/2025

The Hare Krishna Temple in the Washington area is celebrating 'Janmashtami', the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna today ~

The festival will be held from 6:00 pm to midnight, at ISKCON of DC, 10310 Oaklyn Drive, Potomac, Maryland.

Highlights of the event include Kirtan, Abhisheka, meditation, prasadam feast, and more!

Thousands of devotees flocked to the Hare Krishna Temple in the Washington metro area to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, one of the most beloved and revered Gods in the Hindu panth…

05/29/2025

Among the nine finalists of the 2025 National Spelling Bee who will be competing for the championship tonight are seven whizkids of Indian origin ~

The nine finalists are: Esha Marupudi, 13; Sarv Dharavane, 11; Aishwarya Kallakuri, 14; Harini Murali, 13; Oliver Halkett, 13; Faizan Zaki, 13; Brian Liu, 13; Akshaj Somisetty, 13; and Sarvadnya Kadam, 14.

Watch the Finals Thursday, May 29, at 8:00 pm EST, on ion.

Related:
https://indianamericancommunitynews.com/2023/06/02/indian-american-teen-dev-shah-wins-2023-national-spelling-bee/

Photo credit: Scripps National Spelling Bee

02/14/2025

Tesla CEO and X Chairman Elon Musk gifted Prime Minister Modi a piece of space history in the form of a 'heat shield tile' that flew on the fifth test flight of Starship. The enthusiasm and vibes between Modi and Musk were unmistakable at their meeting, Thursday, in the Blair House which is situated across from the White House and serves as the president's official guest residence.

Modi presented classic Indian books to Musk's children. Among the literary works were Rabindranath Tagore's 'The Crescent Moon', 'The Great RK Narayan Collection', and 'Panchatantra' by Pandit Vishnu Sharma.

The thoughtful gifts are being hailed as fostering cultural and technological exchange.

Photo credit: PIB India ~

02/14/2025

Today, at the White House, with India's leader by his side, President Trump told the press, "It's a great honor to have Prime Minister Modi of India. He is a great friend of mine for a long time. We have had a wonderful relationship and we kept the relationship during a four year period...

We have just started up again. We have, I think, some very big things to talk about. Number one is, they are going to be purchasing a lot of our oil and gas. We have more oil and gas than any other country in the world by far. They need it, and we have it.

We are going to talk about trade. We are going to talk about many things.

But, it's really an honor to see you", he told Modi. "You have been my friend for a long time. Congratulations on having done a great job".

Photo credit: PIB India

02/13/2025

Schedule for Prime Minister Modi's meeting with President Donald Trump today, Thursday, February 13, released by the White House ~

4:00 PM THE PRESIDENT greets the Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi
Stake Out Location
Open Press

4:05 PM THE PRESIDENT hosts a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi
Oval Office
In-House Pool

5:10 PM THE PRESIDENT hosts a Press Conference with the Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi
East Room
Pre-Credentialed Media

5:40 PM THE PRESIDENT has dinner with the Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi
State Dining Room

Photo is from an earlier Summit between the two leaders held at the White House:
https://indianamericancommunitynews.com/2017/06/27/prime-minister-modi-president-trump-talk-terror-trade-in-maiden-meeting/

02/13/2025

Prime Minister Modi's first bilateral meeting in Washington, DC, with newly sworn-in Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Modi congratulated Gabbard on her confirmation as the nation's top intelligence official.

"Met USA's Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, in Washington, DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she's always been a strong votary", Modi posted on X.

The discussion on India-US ties focused on enhancing intelligence cooperation in counter-terrorism, cybersecurity as well as emerging threats.

The meeting was held at the Blair House which is situated across from the White House, on Wednesday evening, shortly after Modi arrived in the nation's capital.

Photo credit: PIB India ~

06/24/2023

President Joe Biden, who together with First Lady Jill Biden hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House for his maiden state visit to the US, underscored the importance of the Indian leader being invited to address a joint session of the US Congress.

“It’s a testament to the strong and enduring and thoroughly bipartisan support that exists all across the United States for the friendship and partnership between India and the United States that they (US lawmakers) are anxiously waiting to hear you up on Capitol Hill”, Biden told Modi at a joint press conference.

Modi's words strike the right chord with members of Congress

06/24/2023

Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian leader to address the US Congress twice; and presiding over the rare meeting was Vice President Kamala Harris who traces her roots to India.

Prime Minister Modi’s address to a joint meeting of the US Congress was punctuated with multiple standing ovations and frequent applause by the audience. The Indian diaspora could barely contain th…

06/21/2023

“When we do yoga, we feel physically fit, mentally calm and emotionally content. But, it is not just about doing exercise on a mat”, Prime Minister Modi told the multinational crowd. “Yoga is a way of life, a holistic approach to health and well-being”, he said about India’s great gift to humanity.

The Yoga Day observance spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations headquarters in New York set a Guinness World Record for most nationalities in a yoga session: people of 13…