Res. No. 151
Title
Resolution calling upon the City University of New York (CUNY) to incorporate Diwali as an observed university holiday throughout the CUNY system.
Body
By Council Member Dromm
Whereas, Diwali, a five-day festival, is one of the most important holidays on the Hindu calendar and is referred to as the "festival of lights"; and
Whereas, Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik, which occurs in either October or November; and
Whereas, Diwali generally celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance; and
Whereas, The Diwali celebration varies throughout India by geographical region and religion; and
Whereas, Diwali is observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists; and
Whereas, According to the United States Census Bureau's latest American Religious Identification Survey in 2008, there were 582,000 Hindus, 78,000 Sikhs, and 1,189,000 Buddhists in the United States; and
Whereas, According to the Census Bureau's 2016 American Community Survey, there were 227,825 New York City residents who identified themselves as Asian Indian, of which many are adherents of Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, or Buddhism; and
Whereas, According to The Hindu American Foundation (HAF), a national non-profit advocacy organization for the Hindu American community, Diwali is celebrated by over two million people in the United States alone and by one billion people worldwide; and
Whereas, Other countries that celebrate Diwali include Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Fiji, Guyana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar (or Burma), Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Surinam, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom; and
Whereas, Diwali was first celebrated in the White House under President George W. Bush in 2003 following a long-standing demand by the Indian American comm...
Click here for full text