Bill > A00828

This bill establishes Diwali, which falls on the fifteenth day of Kartika on the Hindu calendar, as a statewide school holiday in New York. The legislation amends existing education law to ensure that public schools, particularly in New York City, will not be in session on this day. Specifically, the bill modifies sections of education law to include Diwali among the days when schools must remain closed, similar to how other cultural and religious holidays are currently treated. For school districts in cities with over one million residents (effectively New York City), the bill requires that school transportation schedules also account for Diwali as a non-school day. Diwali, also known as the "Festival of Lights," is an important Hindu festival celebrating the victory of light over darkness, and this bill recognizes its cultural significance by making it an official school holiday. The legislation aims to provide recognition and accommodation for the Hindu community's important cultural celebration by ensuring students and staff can observe the holiday without school commitments.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A828