The New York state legislature has passed a bill to make Diwali a school holiday in the city.
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar introduced the bill, which had previously failed in 2021 and 2022.
Diwali, an important festival for the South Asian community, will be officially recognized as a public school holiday if Governor Kathy Hochul signs the bill into law.
Washington DC already celebrates Diwali, and Pennsylvania has declared it a state holiday, but it is not yet a national holiday in the United States.
Congresswoman Grace Meng has introduced a bill in the US Congress to make Diwali a federal holiday.
Michigan recently introduced a bill to recognize Diwali, Vaishakhi, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Eid-Al-Adha, and Lunar New Year as state holidays.
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar played a crucial role in advocating for the Diwali school holiday and gained support from various stakeholders.
New York City’s passage of the bill sets an example for school districts nationwide.
The bill’s sponsors, including Senator Joseph Addabbo, expressed gratitude for the support and emphasized the significance of recognizing and accommodating diverse communities.