Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar has introduced two bills in New York to recognize Diwali. A 3507 would recognize Diwali as a state holiday, while A 828 would make Diwali an official school holiday. Though many schools in New York have already incorporated Diwali into their school calendar, school closures for Diwali are not mandated at the state level. Additionally, Diwali is still not recognized as a state holiday.
If these bills are passed, Diwali would finally be recognized in the state of New York and all New York schools would be required to close for the holiday, allowing students to celebrate at home with their families. These bills would not only create a more inclusive environment for the 225,000+ Hindus in New York, but also the Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities who celebrate Diwali.
We need YOU to contact your New York State Legislators to urge them to SUPPORT A 3507 and A 828!
Be sure to check out HAF's educational resources about Diwali: HAF’s Diwali Toolkit and HAF’s All About Diwali webpage.
*Please note: this Action Alert is limited to US citizens residing in New York state*