According to a Monday announcement from Mayor Eric Adams, Diwali will soon be observed as a holiday in New York City.
Diwali is a festival celebrated by thousands of New Yorkers each year to mark the triumph of light over darkness, and the announcement came after state legislators recently passed legislation making it a holiday in the largest school system in the country.
“I’m so happy to have fought alongside Assemblywoman @JeniferRajkumar and local authorities to have Diwali declared a school holiday. Although it’s still early in the year, the Mayor wished everyone a happy Diwali on Twitter.
The mayor declared that he was “confident” that the law will be signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.
The legislation is still awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature. On the list of school holidays, “Brooklyn-Queens Day” will be replaced with the new holiday.
Following the announcement, Jenifer Rajkumar, a member of the New York State Assembly, tweeted, “My press conference with @NYCMayor today at City Hall. Together with Mayor Eric Adams, I was proud to spearhead and prevail in the effort to make Diwali a school holiday.
According to Adams, the occasion symbolised a symbolic proclamation to individuals who are undesired “that you are part of this city and not considered an outsider,” according to the New York Times.
Adams declared, “We’re now saying New York is made for everyone.” “Regardless of where you are from.”
For the first time in 2024, there will be a day off from school for Diwali because it falls on Sunday, November 12.
The city stated in 2015 that it would close schools in observance of two significant Muslim holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, according to the New York Times.
