Diwali at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. : Will the President attend this time?

The press is speculating whether President Bush will snub the Indian-American community again by avoding the Diwali celebrations at the White House. Last year, he was at the White House but did not attend the festival. Looks like it will be the same this year. In a White House press briefing on Oct. 25th (among other pressing issues like Scooter Libbey, Karl Rove, and an ABC reporter’s scathing remarks against the reputation of the White House PR podium), somebody asked about whether the President is going to attend the Diwali celebrations:

Q Second question is on the — now again, most of Indian-American community thankful to the President for initiating — or did initiate the Diwali Festival of Lights at the White House. Now it will be next Wednesday, November 1st, when millions across India and America will — Indians will be celebrating the festival around the globe, including at the White House here. What they are saying in the Indian American community, really, just like President initiates prayers with other groups here in the White House, like Muslims and Jews, and all that, that they are requesting him, please, to the President, this time, that if he can take a few moments and be there at part of the White House Festival of Lights on Wednesday, November 1st.
MR. McCLELLAN: On Wednesday, November 1st? Well, we’ll update you on the President’s schedule later this week.

Obviously, Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary was not aware. Looks like it will be a miss again. President Bush initiated the first ever Diwali in the White House in 2003. He did not attend in person, but Karl Rove lighted the lamp and sought blessings from Goddess Laxmi.
Wanna know more about Diwali, check out the Wikipedia entry.
Diwali at the Golden temple in Amritsar, India

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