Bill Text: NY J03333 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Recognizing the celebration of the Festival of Diwali on November 14, 2020

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-12-28 - ADOPTED [J03333 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J03333-Introduced.html

---

Senate Resolution No. 3333

BY: Senator THOMAS

        RECOGNIZING  the  celebration  of  the Festival of
        Diwali on November 14, 2020

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body, in keeping  with
its  time-honored  traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those who
foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of cultural diversity  which
strengthens  the  fabric  of the communities of this great Empire State;
and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is  justly  proud  to  recognize  the
celebration  of  the  Festival of Diwali on Saturday, November 14, 2020;
and

  WHEREAS, The Festival of Diwali, commonly known as the  Festival  of
Lights,  is  a  major  holiday  which  has both religious and historical
significance for Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains; and

  WHEREAS, The word Diwali is a shortened version of the Sanskrit term
Deepavali and symbolizes the spiritual victory of light  over  darkness,
of good over evil, and of knowledge over ignorance; and

  WHEREAS,  Celebrants of Diwali believe the "rows of lamps" symbolize
the light within the individual that rids the soul of  the  darkness  of
ignorance; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Festival  of  Diwali  also  celebrates  the coming of
monsoon season and the end  of  the  summer  harvest;  each  faith  that
celebrates this holiday connects it with different stories and religious
significances; and

  WHEREAS,  Diwali,  which  falls  on the last day of the month in the
lunar calendar, is celebrated as both a  day  of  thanksgiving  and  the
beginning of the new year for many Hindus; and

  WHEREAS,  For  Sikhs,  Diwali is feted as the day the sixth founding
Sikh Guru, or revered teacher, Guru  Hargobind  ji,  was  released  from
captivity from the ruling Mughal Emperor; and

  WHEREAS,  For  Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the attainment
of moksha or liberation by Mahavira, the last of the  Tirthankaras,  who
were  the  great  teachers of Jain dharma, at the end of his life in 527
B.C.; and

  WHEREAS, The festival is celebrated over five days, with  the  third
day  being  the most significant, as it coincides with the darkest night
of the lunar month; and

  WHEREAS, People begin the celebration on the first day of Diwali  by
cleaning,   decorating   and  renovating  their  homes  and  workplaces;
celebrators also wear  their  finest  clothing,  participate  in  family
feasts, and illuminate lamps in their homes; and

  WHEREAS,  On  the second day, celebrators pray for peace and perform
rituals  to  liberate  souls  who  suffer  and  to   promote   spiritual
auspiciousness; and

  WHEREAS,  During  the  third  day,  the youngest members of families
visit with elders, and celebrate the harvest with  friends,  family  and
colleagues;  at  dusk  followers  recite  prayers and perform rituals to
welcome prosperity and happiness in the coming year; and

  WHEREAS, On the fourth  day,  families  celebrate  the  bounties  of
marriage,  with  couples  providing  gifts  to  one  another and parents
inviting  children  and  their  spouses  to  celebrate;  the  final  day
celebrates the bond between siblings; and

  WHEREAS, A longstanding holiday, Diwali is mentioned by Indian Kings
in Sanskrit documents dating back to the 7th and 9th centuries; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the practice of this Legislative Body to recognize
those who celebrate their rich ethnic flavor and who strive to  preserve
their cultural heritage; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize the celebration of the Festival of Diwali; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the South Asian community of the State of New York.