Bill Text: TX HR86 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing the festival of Diwali 2023.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-11-02 - Reported enrolled [HR86 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR86-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 86 |
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WHEREAS, Diwali, the festival of lights, is being celebrated | ||
across the world by followers of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and | ||
Buddhism on November 12, 2023; and | ||
WHEREAS, The five-day-long celebration derives its name from | ||
the Sanskrit word dipavali, meaning "row of lights," and it is one | ||
of the largest and most anticipated religious festivals for | ||
adherents of the Hindu, Jain, and Sikh faiths; it spans the dark | ||
half of the lunar month Ashvina and the light half of the lunar | ||
month Karttika, which typically falls in late October and November | ||
on the Gregorian calendar; and | ||
WHEREAS, While Diwali generally symbolizes the victory of | ||
light over darkness, the specific traditions associated with the | ||
holiday vary between regions and religions; Hindus customarily | ||
light diyas, small earthenware lamps filled with oil, on the night | ||
of the new moon to welcome the presence of Lakshmi, the goddess of | ||
wealth and prosperity; the people of Bengal worship the goddess | ||
Kali, while in northern India, the festival celebrates the royal | ||
homecoming of Rama to the city of Ayodhya after vanquishing the king | ||
of demons; in South India, festivities center around another story | ||
of good prevailing over evil, the legend of Krishna's defeat of the | ||
demon Narakasura; and | ||
WHEREAS, For Sikhs, Diwali commemorates the return of Guru | ||
Hargobind, the sixth guru and an important figure in the Sikh faith, | ||
from his captivity in the city of Gwalior; Diwali also holds | ||
tremendous significance to people of the Jain faith, for whom it | ||
represents Mahavira's attainment of nirvana, or complete knowledge | ||
and enlightenment; although it is not a major festival of Buddhism, | ||
it is celebrated by some Buddhists to honor Emperor Ashoka's | ||
conversion to Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE; and | ||
WHEREAS, Diwali is a celebration for people of all ages; in | ||
many homes, wives perform a series of rituals to bless their | ||
husbands with longevity, and husbands present their wives with a | ||
special gift to reward their care and devotion; families, friends, | ||
and colleagues alike also exchange gifts during Diwali as a gesture | ||
of love and affection, and the occasion further includes a feast | ||
complete with a variety of desserts; children participate in a | ||
range of customs, which include lighting diyas and candles and | ||
setting off sparklers, and the final day of the festival | ||
specifically celebrates the bond shared by brothers and sisters; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, Every year, the festival of Diwali brings together | ||
more than a billion people across the globe in the spirit of joy, | ||
unity, and hope for humankind, and it is indeed fitting to | ||
acknowledge the profound importance of the holiday to many who | ||
reside in our state; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby recognize the festival of | ||
Diwali 2023 and extend warmest wishes to all those who are taking | ||
part in the observance. | ||
Lalani | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 86 was adopted by the House on | ||
November 1, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||