US President Donald Trump received a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa during a Diwali celebration at the White House’s Oval Office on Friday (local time), with Indian entrepreneur Vishal Gondal presenting the devotional text and expressing hope for stronger friendship between India and America.
Gondal shared details of the meeting on social media platform X, describing the occasion as an honour. He said he gifted Trump a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa, the devotional hymn composed by Tulsidas and recited by millions for courage, devotion and strength.
Vishal Gondal further said he prayed for friendship between the two countries and the triumph of light over darkness. Traditional diyas illuminated the celebration.
A moment of shared light in the Oval Office. 🪔
Honored to celebrate Diwali with President @realDonaldTrump and proud to gift him with a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa, Tulsidas’s hymn to Lord Hanuman that millions of us recite for courage, devotion and strength.
As the diyas were lit, my prayer was for friendship between India and America, and for the triumph of light over darkness.
Jug Jug Jiyo, a blessing many of us grew up hearing, means “may you live for ages.” It is the wish behind everything I do, and today I made it for everyone around the world: peace, prosperity, good health and longevity.
Happy Diwali. Jug Jug Jiyo. 🙏
@TheVikasKhanna @DhallaRuby @WhiteHouse
— Vishal Gondal (@vishalgondal) November 6, 2026
The White House’s official schedule listed the Diwali event for 01:30 PM EST in the Oval Office, with no press access.
Photographs shared by Gondal offered glimpses of the gathering, showing guests dressed in Indian traditional attire and formal suits posing with Trump near the presidential desk.
A photographed programme outlined a 30-minute ceremony featuring presidential remarks and the lighting of a diya. It, however, listed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, FBI Director Kash Patel and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya among the expected participants.
The invitee list included Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, IBM chief Arvind Krishna, Micron chief Sanjay Mehrotra, chef Vikas Khanna and Ruby Dhalla, though their attendance was unconfirmed.
Gondal shared pictures of a commemorative coin gifted by Trump and called the Oval Office celebration memorable.
White House Diwali celebrations began in 2003 under George W Bush. Barack Obama became the first sitting US President to light a diya there in 2009.
Also Read: Sri Lanka Assures India Its Territory Will Not Be Used Against New Delhi’s Security
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
