What you need to know about Diwali, now an NYC public school holiday

For the first time, New York City’s public school students will have Friday off to observe Diwali, a holiday celebrated worldwide by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains.

The new school holiday, which falls on Nov. 1, comes after years of advocacy by the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities.

What is Diwali?

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

Celebrations go on for days but the main holiday takes place this year on Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.

Why is Diwali a school 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 South Asian communities saw their efforts culminate last year when officials passed legislation adding Diwali to the school calendar.

Where to celebrate Diwali in NYC

For those wanting to join in the festivities, here are some ways to celebrate Diwali in NYC this week:

• The Bhakti Center’s Diwali Festival: Held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday in the East Village: This free event features traditional Indian dance performances, food stalls with 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 waitlisted, with tickets ranging from $175 to $235.
• The Seaport Museum’s Diwali Activities: From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., attendees at the Seaport Museum can create marigold-inspired “baggywrinkle” decorations and diya lamps to float in a special deck pool. A Diwali Puppet Storytime will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the museum will stay open an hour later to allow attendees to enjoy the glow of their lamps at sunset.

Dry conditions could be dangerous this year

Celebrators of Diwali — which typically calls for prayer, feasts and displays including fireworks — should be particularly careful with the dry conditions in the area.

New York and the surrounding region has been stuck in an ongoing dry spell. Central Park, for example, experienced one of its longest stretches without measurable precipitations which barely ended after it got 0.01 inches of rain on Wednesday.

But conditions in the city and especially New Jersey remain dangerously dry which could lead to the spread of wildfires.

A Diwali celebration with national significance

This year’s Diwali observance 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, has previously celebrated Diwali publicly, hosting a celebration at her residence while serving as vice president in 2022. President Joe Biden also held a large Diwali event at the White House that year.

On Monday, the White House hosted another Diwali event attended by more than 600 Indian Americans, though both Harris and Biden were absent because they were on the campaign trail.