Diwali Becomes School Holiday in New York City, Celebrating Indian-American Community.
- New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that Diwali will be a school holiday from next year, recognizing the growth of the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities in the city².
- Diwali is a festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists to commemorate the victory of light over darkness¹³.
- The announcement came after state lawmakers enacted legislation designating Diwali as a holiday in the biggest school system in the US²³.
- New York Assembly member Jenifer Rajkumar led the initiative to make Diwali a holiday in the city and said it was a win for the community, for New York and for America²³⁴.
- The new holiday will replace "Brooklyn-Queens Day" on the school holiday calendar²⁴. The measure still has to be signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul²⁴.
- Adams said that the moment represented a symbolic declaration to those who feel unwelcome that they are part of the city and not considered outsiders⁴.
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