Many of you were here when I was honored to become the first President to help celebrate Diwali -- the Festival of Lights. (Applause.) Some of you were here for the first White House celebration of the birth of the founder of Sikhism -- Guru Nanak. (Applause.) Tonight, we gather again, for the first state dinner of my presidency -- with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mrs.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Toasts Prime Minister Singh of India

He said fire statistics from across the UK showed there was an increase in fires during Diwali - the festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.

BBC: Diwali is also known as the festival of lights

Both the food and the fashion whoop it up at Diwali, the annual festival of lights, which takes place from 6 - 7 November, 2010 ( www.gerrardindiafestivals.com).

BBC: Toronto as a world map