WASHINGTON: She took her oath on the Bhagavat Gita to reflect her abiding faith as a practicing Hindu. She invoked the " aloha spirit" to convey her Hawaiian sentiment for affection, peace, and compassion. And she referred often to her experience as a combat veteran to express strength and resilience.

In what has turned out to be the most diverse House of Representatives in US history, Congressman Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii was the cynosure of all eyes on Thursday as she became the first "practicing Hindu" in the chamber that has already seen members of every other major faith.