New York City officially declares Diwali a school holiday

NEW YORK, June 27 (Audio) New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Diwali to honor the city’s South Asian, Indo-Caribbean, Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities. formally declared as school holidays.

On Monday, Mayor Adams made the announcement at City Hall flanked by Rep. Jennifer Rajkumar, the first Hindu-American South Asian American woman elected to state legislature, ABC 7 reported.

“Today we say meet more than 600,000 Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain Americans,” Rajkumar said.

“Today we say to families in India, Guyana, Trinidad, Nepal and Bangladesh, we recognize you.”

Adams said on Twitter later that day: “I am very proud to have worked alongside MP Jennifer Rajkumar and other community leaders in the fight to make Diwali a school holiday.

“It’s a little early this year, but Shubhdiwali festival!”

The mayor’s announcement comes after the New York legislature passed a bill on June 9 to make Diwali a school holiday in the city.

But Governor Kathy Hochul has yet to sign the bill.

Two previous attempts to pass the bill in 2021 and 2022 have been unsuccessful.

An estimated 200,000 students in these communities will be able to celebrate the Festival of Lights in their own way without having to attend school.

Schools will be closed for the first time in 2024 as Diwali 2023 will be celebrated on Sunday 12th November.

The New York Department of Education added that the 2023-24 school calendar will include April 1, the day after Easter, April 29 and 30, two days of Passover, and June 17, Eid4. announced a new day off.