H.R. No. 86
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         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