Obama's predecessor George W Bush also hosted a Diwali ceremony for six consecutive years, but he never attended a single celebration, instead deputing a cabinet official or a senior aide.

Also, the event was always held in the Indian Treaty Room at the Old Executive Office Building, which is adjacent to the White House, and serves as an administrative office of the White House.

The programme began with a song by Penn Masala, the world's first Hindi a cappella group formed in 1996 by students of the University of Pennsylvania that combines South Asian music with a Western musical style.

"This coming Saturday," he said, "Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, here in America and around the world, will celebrate this holiday by lighting diyas or lamps, which symbolise the victory of light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. And while this is a time of rejoicing, it's also a time for reflection, when we remember those who are less fortunate and renew our commitment to reach out to those in need."

Then, after returning the namaskar-like salutation from Digalakote, Obama lit the diya, after which he once again returned the salutation from Digalakote, with a beaming smile and then shook hands with the priest.

He then went over to the small desk placed on the stage to sign the executive order restoring the AAPI Commission.

What he had chanted, Digalakote said, was "a mantra for world peace, where I said, O Lord, please lead the unreal to real and please lead us from darkness and ignorance to the light of knowledge and please bestow prosperity on all of us."

A beaming Shekhar Narasimhan told rediff.com, "This is just so historic. When they (the White House) said, we would like to have a priest chant and we would like you to bring a diya and do this."