The reception held at the rose garden by President Biden to celebrate AANHPI Heritage month featured GolGappas and Khoya and Saare Jahan Se Accha, the famous Indian patriotic song was played.
Our Bureau
Washington, DC
North India’s favorite street food – Golgappa, pani puri or puchka is making regular appearance at White House receptions. It made a latest entry at the Rose Garden reception on hosted by President Joe Biden to celebrate the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.
The guests included scores of Asian-Americans and several Indian- Americans, including US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy who played an important role in the fight against COVID-19. Dr Murthy enthralled the guests as he played drums. Dr Murthy told the audience that music plays an important role in healing.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t close by saying that one of the most important things we need at this moment to heal is music. Music is an incredible source of healing. It uplifts our spirit. It fills our soul. It brings us together in moments like this,” the 46-year-old physician said before he took up the drums along with Mark H Taiko Connection.
Community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria also attended the reception and described the Golgappas as tangy and spicy, just perfect!
So far, only samosas used to appear on the White House receptions menu. However, golgappas now appear to be catching up with the samosas fast.
He even met White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford on the grounds of the White House and asked her about the golgappa. “I asked her, did you make the golgappas in-house? She said, yes, we made everything in the White House,” he said. There was another Indian item ‘Khoya’ on the White House menu at the reception.
“It was sweet and made of khoya and they called it khoya. That was wonderful. It is good to see in the AANHPI heritage month celebration, representation of all the Asian American communities, food and delicacies, and especially for Indian-American golgappa and khoya,” Bhutoria said.
Over the last few years, golgappa has found its prominent niche in the US because of its mouth-watering taste.
India’s patriotic song “Saare Jahan Se Achha” was at the event . The event hosted by US President Joe Biden celebrated 25 years since the start of the White House Initiative and the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The event was graced by leaders from five presidential administrations who honored and recognized the contributions of the AA and NHPI communities to American society.
The 2024 National AANHPI Heritage Month Theme is, “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation”. This year’s theme is a continuation of the “Advancing Leaders” series that began in 2021.
