The mayor declared Diwali a public
school holiday in New York City beginning next year.
It's official: Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights that is usually celebrated October through November, will become a public school holiday in New York City starting 2023.
Mayor Eric Adams made the announcement during a press conference earlier this week, explaining that legislators have decided to swap out Anniversary Day, which commemorates the founding of the First Sunday School on Long Island on the first Thursday in June every year, for the "Festival of Lights" beginning the next school year calendar. As a result, the schedule will still include the 180 school days required by New York's education laws.
To be clear, Diwali is a five-day holiday that's honored on a different date yearly so students will enjoy a fluctuating day off.
"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," state assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar said alongside Adams during the press conference. "People have said that there's simply not enough room in the New York City school calendar to have a Diwali school holiday. Well, my legislation makes the room."
The politician specifically referred to Anniversary Day as an "obscure and antiquated day."
Mayor Adams also noted that schools will educate children about what the holiday is. "We're going to have them start talking about what it is to celebrate the Festival of Lights, and how do you turn a light on within yourself," he said. "When we take this period to acknowledge Diwali, we're acknowledging the light that is within us, the light that clearly can push away darkness."
A bill still needs to pass in Albany to turn the new guidelines into law, but it seems like that will happen before the 2023 school year kicks off.
- Anna Rahmanan
An email you’ll actually love
Get into a relationship with our newsletter. Discover the best of the city, first.
By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.
🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!
Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!
Popular on Time Out
[image]
[title]
Events from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Saturday, October 1, 2022 to Sunday, October 9, 2022
Nambé Pueblo Feast Day
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Yom Kippur
Tuesday, October 4, 2022 to Wednesday, October 5, 2022
APS Employee Wellness Fair
3315 Louisiana Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87110
Thursday, October 6, 2022, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Employees will have access to APS Benefits vendors and Benefit Specialists, information on medical and non-medical benefits, and assistance with online open enrollment.
Fall Break - All Schools
Friday, October 7, 2022
School Lunch Week
Monday, October 10, 2022 to Friday, October 14, 2022
PSAT
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
End of First Quarter
Friday, October 14, 2022
Zia Marching Band Fiesta
Saturday, October 15, 2022
School Bus Safety Week
Monday, October 17, 2022 to Friday, October 21, 2022
Boss's Day (observed)
Monday, October 17, 2022
ACT
Saturday, October 22, 2022
Diwali
Monday, October 24, 2022
Rudolfo Anaya I Love to Read Day
In Progress Sunday, October 30, 2022
Halloween
Monday, October 31, 2022
End of First Trimester
Tuesday, November 1, 2022