“It is long overdue to say to our Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist students and communities that we see you, we acknowledge you,” Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference.
New York City public schools will now observe the Diwali holiday, Mayor Eric Adams announced at a news conference Thursday.
Diwali, also called the festival of lights, is typically celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs, and will be commemorated starting the next academic year.
Adams made the announcement alongside Schools Chancellor David Banks and state Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, who spoke about her own ties to the holiday as an Indian American from Queens.
“It is long overdue to say to our Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist students and communities that we see you, we acknowledge you,” Adams said at the conference.
Diwali traditions typically include a five-day celebration at home and with large events. It involves the preparation and distribution of sweets, time celebrating with family, and the burning of lamps and sparklers to represent light driving out darkness.
Diwali’s date changes every year, and its observance can be in either October or November depending on the Indian calendar. This year, it falls on Oct. 24.
