New York City plans to make Diwali a school holiday next year
NEW YORK -- New York City students could soon have a day off to observe Diwali, an important holiday for many religions.
It's part of a city-state partnership to allow the change in the city, CBS2's Nick Caloway reported Thursday.
"The time has come to recognize over 200,000 New Yorkers of the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain faiths who celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights," said New York State Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar.
Rajkumar, the first Hindu American and South Asian woman elected to state office in New York, and Mayor Eric Adams announced the plan.
"South Asian and Indo-Caribbean families like mine all over this city have made incredible contributions. And today, I'm proud to say our time has come," said Rajkumar.
Diwali is celebrated by more than one billion people around the world. It signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil.
The celebration typically spans five days and families who celebrate usually pull their kids out of school.
"It'll be a day off, and they will know it. And we can actually plan things well in advance," said Ajay Narang, who has two children in public schools.
"It's definitely a celebration of happiness. It's a celebration of love, of happiness, of joy, of exchanging gifts, of exchanging love," said Bala Krsna Das, who is helping organize the Diwali festival at the Bhakti Center in the East Village on Oct. 24.
An estimated 500 people will come to this Hindu temple to celebrate.
The proposed legislation to add Diwali would replace Anniversary Day on the school calendar. The hope is to have the new official holiday on the books by next school year.