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 | ||
