The White House Marine Band played “Sare Jahan Se Accha Hindustan Hamara,” a popular Indian patriotic song, at a reception celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. The party included Indian street food, including golgappa (pani puri) and khoya (sweets).
This was the second time in less than a year that “Sare Jahan Se Accha” was heard at the White House. It was last played during State visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 23, 2023. According to Indian-American community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria, this reflects the powerful relationship between the US and India.
At a reception attended by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month, the White House Marine Band twice played the song “Saare Jahan Se Accha Hindustan Hamara,” written by Mohammad Iqbal during India’s struggle for independence. at the request of Indian Americans invited by the president to the annual event, news agency PTI reported.
“It was an incredible celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month in the White House Rose Garden. The best part was that when I entered the White House, I was greeted by musicians playing ‘Sare Jahan se Accha Hindustan Hamara’,” Bhutoria said.
The party included Indian street food, including golgappa (pani puri) and the sweet dish khoya. This is the newest addition to the White House menu, alongside classic samosas.
“Last year when I was here, it was golgappa/pani puri. This year I was also looking for them and suddenly one of the waiters brought pani puri/golgappa. It was amazing. The taste was dingy and a bit sizzling. Perfect!” Bhutoria told PTI after attending the AANHPI reception at the White House Rose Garden on Monday evening.
During the event, Bhutoria met with White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford and asked her about golgappa.
“I asked her, did you do golgappa at the White House? She said yes, we did everything in the White House,” Bhutoria was quoted as saying by PTI.
Bhutoria believes that golgappa’s growing popularity in the U.S. is due to American officials sampling street food while traveling in India.
“Many U.S. government officials, whether State Department or White House officials, have traveled to India on numerous occasions. I am sure their counterparts say that of all the street foods, golgappa is the must-try,” Bhutoria said.
May is observed as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. AANHPI encompasses cultures from Asia and the Pacific Islands, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, including approximately 50 ethnic groups and 100 languages.
The month was chosen due to the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant to the United States in May 1843. It is also a tribute to the Chinese immigrants who helped complete the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad in May 1869.
