Diwali to become school holiday in New York City

Diwali is set to become a school holiday in New York City, announced Mayor Eric Adams yesterday. He said that festival of Diwali will be added to the list of public school holidays in recognition of the growth of the city’s South Asian and Indo-Caribean communities. The announcement came after the state lawmakers recently enacted legislation designating it as a holiday in the biggest school system in the US.

Mayor Eric Adams called the moment a significant win for the local families. Meanwhile, the measure still has to be inked into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. The mayor said, he was confident that Governor Kathy Hochul would sign the bill. The new holiday will replace Brooklyn-Queens Day on the school holiday calendar. According to officials, more than two lakh residents in New York celebrate Diwali. Diwali will be observed this year on November 12, therefore it will be a day off from school for the first time in 2024.