The New York state legislature has approved a bill that designates Diwali as a public school holiday in New York City. Mayor Eric Adams, who made this a part of his campaign in 2021, expressed confidence that Governor Kathy Hochul will sign the bill into law.
Assembly member Jenifer Rajkumar, the first South Asian American woman elected to the New York State Assembly, stated, “Today we say to over 600,000 Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain Americans, we see you. Today we say to families from India, Guyana, Trinidad, Nepal, and Bangladesh, we recognize you.”
While the recognition of Diwali as a school holiday will not affect the upcoming school year, since it falls on a Sunday, it marks a significant victory after attempts in 2021 and 2022 to pass the bill. More than 200,000 residents of New York City celebrate Diwali.
The holiday will join Rosh Hashanah, Eid, and the Lunar New Year as a day off for students, but it will replace Brooklyn-Queens Day to maintain the required 180 days of instruction.
Diwali going mainstream in the US
The growing acknowledgment of Diwali in the US is evident through major brands running ad campaigns and offering products related to the holiday. Costco sells fireworks, Hallmark provides greeting cards, and Target offers party decorations for South Asian Americans celebrating Diwali. Previously, the festival received little recognition outside of South Asian communities, but it is now gaining visibility.
While the increased availability of Diwali-related products is positive, there are concerns about potential over-commercialization and appropriation of the holiday. Soni Satpathy-Singh, who runs the meal delivery review website Meal Matchmaker, acknowledges that as Diwali becomes mainstream, there is a risk of appropriation. However, she views the fact that these discussions are taking place as progress.
The questions of whether the creators of Diwali products need to be South Asian and where the line between celebration and appropriation lies are subjects worth exploring. Satpathy-Singh believes that the ability to engage in these conversations is powerful and signifies progress.
