The festival of the victory of light over darkness is celebrated by thousands of New Yorkers every year. Recently, state lawmakers enacted legislation designating it as a holiday in the biggest school system in the US.
The mayor took to Twitter to acknowledge this, stating, “I’m so proud to have stood with Assembly member Jennifer Rajkumar 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!” He further mentioned that he was “confident” that Governor Kathy Hochul would sign the bill.
Though the bill is yet to be amended into law by Kathy Hochul, Governor, This holiday will replace “Brooklyn-Queens Day” on the school holiday calendar. After the declaration, New York State Assembly member 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.”
Adams stated that the moment signified a symbolic statement to those who felt unwelcome. This year, Diwali will be observed on Sunday, November 12, so it will be a day of school for the first time in 2024.
The New York Times reported that in 2015, the city declared it would close schools for two important Muslim holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.