South Queens, NY - Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar (D-AD 38) fulfilled the dream of the South Asian community when she passed her historic bill (A.7769) to designate Diwali as a New York City public school holiday. It was the final victory in a fight spanning over two decades for Diwali, one of the holiest days of the year for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, to become a school holiday.

The first South Asian woman and first Hindu American elected to New York State Office, Assemblywoman Rajkumar took the mantle of the Diwali school holiday movement. She brought her leadership and vision to the decades-long fight, developing the blueprint for the school holiday dream to become a reality. As the daughter of Indian immigrants, she knew firsthand the deep, cultural impact of this holiday, and the transformative effects of this bill on generations of New Yorkers to come.

In October, Assemblywoman Rajkumar announced her plan to pass legislation establishing the Diwali school holiday, hosting a press conference with New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor David Banks. Over the ensuing months, the Assemblywoman forged a diverse coalition of stakeholders of all backgrounds across the state for a united effort in the push to recognize Diwali as a school holiday. She brought hundreds to rally in Albany and engaged with all city and state stakeholders to secure unanimous support from New York City Mayor Eric Adams,Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, all her Albany colleagues, Schools Chancellor Banks, the United Federation of Teachers, the entire New York City Council, and New Yorkers of every faith and background.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “It is long overdue to say to our Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist students and communities that, we see you, we acknowledge you. The inclusiveness of this city is extremely significant, and this is our opportunity to say that in a loud way. So, I thank you Assemblywoman for your tenacity, your vision, your determination.”

Upon the bill’s passage, the Assemblywoman said on the Assembly floor, “Tonight our legislature says to hundreds of thousands of Hindus, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain Americans across the State, ‘We see you. Tonight, we say to New Yorkers from India, Guyana, Trinidad, Nepal, and Bangladesh, ‘We recognize you.’ From now on, the largest school jurisdiction in the entire country will recognize the Diwali school holiday. Tonight, we proudly say that Diwali is an American holiday—and that the South Asian community is part of the American story.”

As the largest school system in the country, New York City schools’ designation of a Diwali holiday will set an example for districts nationwide.

Diwali is a celebration of light over darkness and good over evil. Originating in South Asia, it is one of the most sacred days of the year for over 200,000 Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist New Yorkers. The day is marked by huge celebrations in New York’s South Asian and Indo-Caribbean community, including Richmond Hill in the Assemblywoman’s district. When Diwali falls on a school day, families must choose between sending their children to school and celebrating the day together.

Following passage of her bill, Assemblywoman Rajkumar said, “Nothing can stop a community whose time has come. People said this would be impossible, but we made it happen. To everyone who believed in the power of the possible—whether in the legislature, the streets of Queens, or all around the world, this victory is yours.”

Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s colleagues praised her legislative triumph.

Assemblyman Ed Braunstein said, “I would like to commend, congratulate and thank the sponsor [Assemblywoman Rajkumar] for all her hard work on getting this passed. This was an uphill climb from the beginning, but through sheer force of will you’ve brought us to this moment.”

Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman said, “To my colleague [Assemblywoman Rajkumar], thank you for your Herculean effort. To the populations in Queens—especially, particularly Jamaica, Queens where I represent—I am thankful that these children…will be able to be celebrating in this great diverse City and State.”

Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, said, “I want to congratulate the sponsor [Assemblywoman Rajkumar]. She worked so hard, she hustled, and she got this through. So, congratulations to you. Congratulations to all of us in making this a historic moment.”

Assemblywoman MaryJane Shimsky said, “This legislation, and I congratulate Ms. Rajkumar on it, sends a signal not just through New York City but across the State as well. The population of South Asians in Westchester County has grown a great deal in recent years. One of our school districts, the Ardsley School District, recently made Diwali a holiday for those students, and I suspect that it won’t be long before Diwali…will become statewide.”

Assemblyman Lester Chang said, “Thank you for [Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s] bill. Fantastic. This is a historic recognition of Diwali. This is a needed recognition of Diwali. I know you pushed hard.”

Assemblyman Anil Beephan said, "I stand here today, not only as an Assemblyman, but as someone who has personally celebrated Diwali as a child. With the passage of A7769, New York has taken a monumental step towards inclusivity and cultural recognition. As a former Hindu, I vividly remember the feeling of being overlooked, wondering why the holidays my family cherished were not acknowledged. Today, I proudly embrace my heritage and the Hindu and Sikh communities I represent. With great honor, I cosponsor this bill and cast my vote in favor, ensuring that future generations can celebrate Diwali without compromise. I commend the tenacity and persistence of the sponsor, Assemblymember Rajkumar. Together, we build bridges of understanding and forge a more inclusive society for all."