Historic Win: Diwali in NY to Become Official Holiday

The New York state legislature passed a bill to make Diwali a school holiday in the city. The bill was introduced by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and had previously failed in 2021 and 2022.

Diwali, a significant festival for the South Asian community, will now be recognized as a public school holiday if Governor Kathy Hochul signs the bill into law.

While Diwali is celebrated in Washington DC, and Pennsylvania has already declared it a state holiday, 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. Additionally, a bill was recently introduced in Michigan 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 pushing for the Diwali school holiday, gaining support from various stakeholders. The passage of the bill in New York City sets an example for school districts nationwide.

The bill’s sponsors, including Senator Joseph Addabbo, expressed gratitude for the support and highlighted the importance of recognizing and accommodating diverse communities.