More than a week before the Diwali festival, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, has said she is 'delighted to send greetings to all Americans who are celebrating Diwali festival with gaiety and great enthusiasm.'

The New York lawmaker, who is the co-chair of the Friends of India Caucus in the US Senate, said in her missive conveying greetings that 'Diwali is an annual festival of lights signifying universal love, peace, giving and caring. The glitter and splendor of lights which illuminate the dark sky on this day symbolizes the brightness of the future.'

'The ancient message of Diwali reminds us of hope and goodwill towards all our fellow human beings,' she added.

Clinton pointed out that 'the United States was founded on the fundamental principles of religious tolerance and liberty,' and said the tradition of Diwali 'helps unite our nation of diverse faiths and cultures and encourages us to celebrate our diversity with joy and understanding.'

And the Indian culture, she said, has indeed enriched the American society.

Meanwhile, on November 7, the White House for the fifth successive year was slated to host a Diwali celebration but it was highly unlikely that for the fifth successive year, President George W Bush [Images] would grace the occasion.

Sources told rediff.com that this year, the senior Bush Administration official who would help the nearly 100 Indian Americans community leaders invited for the celebration --which is closed to the press -- would be Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, fresh from his trip to India.

The first senior official to grace the occasion, was then President Bush's senior political affairs and strategic affairs adviser Karl Rove, and was followed by the likes of erstwhile US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill -- at the time a member of the White House National Security Council -- and another close adviser to the President, Karen Hughes.