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North The Indian Eye

AMERICANNewsline

16 JULY 07, 2023

Meng Hails Diwali Becoming a

NYC Public School Holiday

Congresswoman celebrates with New York City Mayor, New York City Schools Chancellor

and colleagues after she long called for schools to be closed for the Festival of Lights

OUR BUREAU
QUEENS, NY
.
Meng (D-NY), First Vice Chair of
the Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus, joined New York
City Mayor Eric Adams and New
York City Schools Chancellor David
Banks at City Hall in Manhattan to
commemorate Diwali becoming a
public school holiday in New York
City.
“Nearly a decade ago, I worked
with then-Mayor Bill de Blasio to
create a New York City school holi-
day for Lunar New Year, and when it
was finally established, I was ecstat-
ic,” said Meng.
“I also hailed the decision to
close our public schools for Eid. But
I also said, what about Diwali? I ar-
gued, and have continued to argue,
that kids who celebrate the Festival
of Lights also deserve to be recog-
nized with a holiday of their own, so
they too could celebrate with loved
ones, and not miss a day of school.
So, I and my colleagues pushed for
this school holiday to happen, and I
cannot be happier that we are now
on the cusp of our efforts becoming
a reality. The time has come for our
school system to acknowledge and
appreciate this important obser- Congresswoman Meng hailing Diwali becoming a school holiday in New York City as she joined Mayor Adams,
vance, just as it rightly does for holi- Schools Chancellor Banks and colleagues today at City Hall.
days of other cultures and ethnicities.
And doing so will further reflect the
rich and vibrant diversity that exists Joe Addabbo, the lawmakers who Last month, Meng introduced a Diwali, also known as Deepavali
in our great city, and how we should sponsored the legislation in the New or the Festival of Lights, is one of the
all embrace it. I eagerly await seeing York State Legislature. bill in Congress to make Diwali a most important holidays for many in
the first Diwali holiday for New York Other lawmakers and many ad- federal holiday. Under the Diwa- the South Asian, Southeast Asian and
City’s public schools.” vocates were in attendance as well. Indo-Caribbean communities, as well
In addition to celebrating with The bill recently passed New York li Day Act, Diwali would become as many religious groups including
the Mayor and Schools Chancellor, State Assembly and State Senate, the 12th federally recognized Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. Bil-
the Congresswoman joined New and now must be signed by Governor lions around the world celebrate Diwali,
York Assemblywoman Jenifer Raj- Kathy Hochul. holiday in the United States. including the millions who commemo-
kumar and New York State Senator rate the holiday in the United States.

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