Diwali will now be enshrined as a school holiday in New York City, state authorities announced on Monday. Mayor Eric Adams called the moment a significant win for the local families. Adams said he was proud that the State Assembly and the State Senate have passed the bill making Deepavali a New York City Public School holiday. The measure still has to be inked into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. The new holiday will replace "Brooklyn-Queens Day" on the school holiday calendar, reported news agency ANI. The mayor said he was "confident" that Governor Kathy Hochul would sign the bill.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams took to Twitter to announce this news. Along with the news, he also posted a short half-minute video in which Dhols were being played. The Mayor in his tweet wrote, "I'm so proud to have stood with Assemblymember @JeniferRajkumar and community leaders in the fight to make Diwali a school holiday. I know it's a little early in the year, but: Shubh Diwali!."
Following the declaration, New York State Assemblymember, Jenifer Rajkumar tweeted, "My press conference with @NYCMayor today at City Hall. I was proud to lead and win the fight to make Diwali a School Holiday, alongside Mayor Eric Adams."
New York Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar, the first Indian-American woman ever elected to a New York State office, said for over two decades, the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean community has fought for this moment.
Numerous New Yorkers celebrate Diwali every year to commemorate the victory of good over evil and also light over darkness. This announcement came after state lawmakers recently enacted legislation that designates Diwali as a holiday in the biggest school system in the US.
Diwali will be celebrated this year on November 12, and it will be a day off from school for the first time in 2024 in the US.
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