CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION House Resolution No. 94Introduced by Assembly Member KalraMay 11, 2020 Relative to Diwali. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTHR 94, as introduced, Kalra. Digest KeyBill TextWHEREAS, Diwali, a festival of great significance to Indian Americans and South Asian Americans, is celebrated annually by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains throughout the United States, and across the globe; andWHEREAS, There are approximately 3,230,000 Hindus in the United States, nearly 2,000,000 of which are of Indian and South Asian origin; andWHEREAS, The word Diwali is a shortened version of the Sanskrit term Deepavali, which means a row of lamps; andWHEREAS, Diwali, one of the worlds oldest religious holidays, brings together families, friends, and communities here in California, the United States, and around the globe in goodwill, peace, and a shared sense of renewal; andWHEREAS, Diwali is a festival of lights during which celebrants light small oil lamps, place them around the home, and pray for health, knowledge, and peace; andWHEREAS, Hindu celebrants of Diwali believe that the rows of lamps symbolize the light of knowledge and truth within the individual that signifies the destruction of all negative qualitiesviolence, anger, jealousy, ignorance, greed, fear, or suffering; in other words, Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil; andWHEREAS, Diwali falls on Saturday, November 14 this year in accordance with the lunar calendar and is celebrated by Hindus as a day of thanksgiving for the homecoming of Lord Rama and the beginning of the new year for many Hindus; andWHEREAS, For Sikhs, Diwali is feted as the day that the sixth founding Sikh Guru, or revered teacher, Guru Hargobind, was released from captivity by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir; andWHEREAS, For Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the attainment of moksha, or liberation, by Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras (the great teachers of Jain dharma), at the end of his life in 527 B.C.; andWHEREAS, For Buddhists, especially Newar Buddhists, Diwali is commemorated as Ashok Vijayadashami, the day the great Emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism as his faith; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly recognizes this years Diwali festival on Saturday, November 14, 2020, and encourages Californians to take part in this joyous day of celebration; and be it furtherResolved, That the Assembly recognizes the religious and historical significance of the festival of Diwali and in observance of Diwali, the festival of lights, expresses its deepest respect for Indian Americans and the Indian diaspora throughout the world on this significant occasion; and be it furtherResolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION House Resolution No. 94Introduced by Assembly Member KalraMay 11, 2020 Relative to Diwali. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTHR 94, as introduced, Kalra. Digest Key
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION
House Resolution
No. 94
Introduced by Assembly Member KalraMay 11, 2020
Introduced by Assembly Member Kalra
May 11, 2020
Relative to Diwali.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
HR 94, as introduced, Kalra.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, Diwali, a festival of great significance to Indian Americans and South Asian Americans, is celebrated annually by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains throughout the United States, and across the globe; and
WHEREAS, There are approximately 3,230,000 Hindus in the United States, nearly 2,000,000 of which are of Indian and South Asian origin; and
WHEREAS, The word Diwali is a shortened version of the Sanskrit term Deepavali, which means a row of lamps; and
WHEREAS, Diwali, one of the worlds oldest religious holidays, brings together families, friends, and communities here in California, the United States, and around the globe in goodwill, peace, and a shared sense of renewal; and
WHEREAS, Diwali is a festival of lights during which celebrants light small oil lamps, place them around the home, and pray for health, knowledge, and peace; and
WHEREAS, Hindu celebrants of Diwali believe that the rows of lamps symbolize the light of knowledge and truth within the individual that signifies the destruction of all negative qualitiesviolence, anger, jealousy, ignorance, greed, fear, or suffering; in other words, Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil; and
WHEREAS, Diwali falls on Saturday, November 14 this year in accordance with the lunar calendar and is celebrated by Hindus as a day of thanksgiving for the homecoming of Lord Rama and the beginning of the new year for many Hindus; and
WHEREAS, For Sikhs, Diwali is feted as the day that the sixth founding Sikh Guru, or revered teacher, Guru Hargobind, was released from captivity by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir; and
WHEREAS, For Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the attainment of moksha, or liberation, by Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras (the great teachers of Jain dharma), at the end of his life in 527 B.C.; and
WHEREAS, For Buddhists, especially Newar Buddhists, Diwali is commemorated as Ashok Vijayadashami, the day the great Emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism as his faith; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly recognizes this years Diwali festival on Saturday, November 14, 2020, and encourages Californians to take part in this joyous day of celebration; and be it further
Resolved, That the Assembly recognizes the religious and historical significance of the festival of Diwali and in observance of Diwali, the festival of lights, expresses its deepest respect for Indian Americans and the Indian diaspora throughout the world on this significant occasion; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.