New York city to add Diwali as public Holiday

On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams stated that Diwali will be added to the list of public school holidays in appreciation of the city’s growing South Asian and Indo-Caribbean cultures.

According to city officials, around 200,000 New York City residents celebrate the Hindu festival, which is observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists.

This is a victory, not only from the men and women of the Indian community and all communities that celebrate Diwali, but it’s a victory for New York,” the mayor said.

Diwali, known as the festival of lights, happens in October or November, depending on the lunar calendar.

However, while the festival will be a public school holiday beginning this year, children and teachers will not receive an additional day off in 2023. This is because the Diwali date for 2023 is already a holiday due to it being a Sunday.

If Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, signs a bill passed by the New York state legislature earlier this month making Diwali a public school holiday in New York City, the new holiday will become official. Adams, who pledged on making the Hindu festival a school holiday in 2021, said he expected Hochul to sign the bill. Hochul, who held a Diwali celebration last autumn, is studying all measures enacted by the legislature in 2023, according to the governor’s office.

The push for official recognition of the Hindu festival comes as Indians have gained numbers and clout in New York and nationally.

Rep. Grace Meng, a Democrat who represents parts of the New York City borough of Queens, introduced legislation last month to make the festival a federal holiday.