For the first time, New York City public school students will have Friday off to celebrate Diwali, a holiday celebrated around the world by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains.

The new school holidays, which fall on November 1, come after years advocacy by South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities.

What is Diwali?

Diwali, also known as Deepavali or “Festival of Lights”, is a celebration of light over darkness. THE vacation originated in India more than 2,500 years ago and is impacted by millions of people around the world, including New York’s 600,000 Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist residents, according to Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar (D-Queens). Rajkumar, an Indian-American Hindu, led legislative efforts to make Diwali a public holiday.

The celebrations last several days, but the main festival takes place this year from October 31 to November 1.

Why is Diwali a public holiday now?

New York City public schools have recently added holidays such as Lunar New Year, Eid and Juneteenth to reflect the city’s diversity.

After decades of lobbying, local communities in South Asia saw their efforts culminate last year when authorities passed a law adding Diwali to the school calendar.

Where to celebrate Diwali in New York

For those who want to join in the festivities, here are some ways to celebrate Diwali in New York this week:

• Bhakti Center Diwali Festival: organized on Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the East Village: this free event offers traditional Indian dance performances, food stalls offering Indian street food, henna and face painting.
• Diwali Dinner at Pier 57: Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-winning chefs will present a multi-course Diwali-inspired menu. THE event is already on a waiting list, with tickets ranging from $175 to $235.
• Seaport Museum Diwali Activities: From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Seaport Museum visitors can create marigold-inspired “baggyride” decorations and diya lamps that float in a special pool on the deck. A Diwali Puppet Storytime will take place from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and the museum will remain open for an hour later to allow participants to enjoy the glow of their lamps as the sun sets.

Dry conditions could be dangerous this year

Celebrants of Diwali – which typically calls for prayer, parties and entertainment, including fireworks – should be especially careful with the dry conditions in the region.

New York and the surrounding region are stuck in an ongoing crisis drought period. Central Park, for example, experienced one of its longest stretches without measurable precipitation, which barely ended after receiving 0.01 inches of rain on Wednesday.

But conditions in the city and particularly in New Jersey remain dangerously dry, which could lead to wildfires spreading.

A Diwali celebration of national significance

This year’s Diwali celebration comes just days before the presidential election, in which Kamala Harris, the first South Asian and Black vice president, could make history if elected the first female president.

Harris, who is Christian, previously publicly celebrated Diwali by hosting a celebration at his residence while serving as vice president in 2022. President Joe Biden also hosted a large Diwali event at the White House that year.

The White House hosted another Diwali event on Monday assisted by more than 600 Native Americans, even though Harris and Biden were absent because they were on the campaign trail.