Mayor Adams signs bill recognizing Diwali as public school holiday
Diwali will be celebrated on Sunday, Nov. 12 this year.
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Diwali, the Hindu celebration known as the Festival of Lights, is now officially a public school holiday in New York City.
Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials announced the legislation passed unanimously, meaning from this year moving forward, Diwali will be recognized by all New York City public schools.
It's a day Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar says she never stopped fighting for since Diwali is a celebration observed by many from a variety of faiths. As the first South Asian-American woman to be elected to a state office, she declared this a victory.
This comes after failed attempts to pass the bill in 2021 and 2022. Mayor Adams says the hours and the vision Assemblywoman Rajkumar brought to the table were a clear reflection of her concern and fight to have the voices of Indian-Americans in the city heard.
In May, a bill was introduced to Congress about declaring Diwali a federal holiday.
Diwali will be celebrated on Sunday, Nov. 12 this year.
