New York City celebrates victory: Diwali officially becomes school holiday

New York, June 27: New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, has announced that Diwali, the festival of lights, will now be recognized as an official school holiday in New York City. This development has been hailed as a significant victory for the city's residents, particularly the Indian community.

Mayor Adams expressed his pride in the State Assembly and the State Senate for passing the bill that designates Diwali as a public school holiday in New York City. He further expressed confidence that the governor would sign the bill into law. The announcement was made during a special event at City Hall on Monday.

"This is not only a victory for the Indian community and all communities that celebrate Diwali, but it is also a victory for New York," Mayor Adams declared.

Starting this year, Diwali will be an official public school holiday in New York City. Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar, the first Indian-American woman elected to a New York State office, joined Mayor Adams in making the announcement. She emphasized the decades-long fight of the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean community for this moment.

"Today, the mayor and I proudly declare to the world that Diwali will be a school holiday in New York City from now on and forever," Rajkumar proclaimed.

She further stated that the legislation will enshrine the Diwali holiday into law, providing official recognition and celebration of the festival within the city's educational system.

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