| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 129 0013 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Resolution 25 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representatives Reeves of the 99 |
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| 4 | 4 | | th |
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| 5 | 5 | | , Hilton of the 48 |
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| 6 | 6 | | th |
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| 7 | 7 | | , Donatucci of the 105 |
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| 8 | 8 | | th |
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| 9 | 9 | | , Barrett of |
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| 10 | 10 | | the 24 |
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| 11 | 11 | | th |
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| 12 | 12 | | , and Cox of the 28 |
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| 13 | 13 | | th |
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| 14 | 14 | | |
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| 15 | 15 | | A RESOLUTION |
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| 16 | 16 | | Recognizing January 14, 2025, as Tamil Thai Pongal Day; and for other purposes. |
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| 17 | 17 | | 1 |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Tamil Thai Pongal is the most important festival celebrated on January 14,2 |
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| 19 | 19 | | 2025, by millions of Tamil ethnic people in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom,3 |
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| 20 | 20 | | India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and many other countries around the world; and4 |
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| 21 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Tamil is the longest surviving classical language in the world, with a traceable5 |
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| 22 | 22 | | history exceeding 3,200 years and about 100 million native speakers across the globe; and6 |
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| 23 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Tamil people refer to Pongal as "Thamizhar Thiruvizha," the festival of Tamils,7 |
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| 24 | 24 | | and in the Tamil language, the word Pongal means "overflowing," signifying abundance and8 |
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| 25 | 25 | | prosperity; and9 |
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| 26 | 26 | | WHEREAS, similar to Thanksgiving Day in the United States, Tamils celebrate Pongal as10 |
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| 27 | 27 | | a festival of thanksgiving to mother nature, the earth, farm animals, and the Lord Suryan11 |
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| 28 | 28 | | (Sun) for the resources necessary for a bountiful yield of crops; and12 |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, the peace loving Tamil American Community of Georgia makes many13 |
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| 30 | 30 | | important contributions to education, healthcare, the economy, and homeland security with14 |
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| 31 | 31 | | H. R. 25 |
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| 32 | 32 | | - 1 - 25 LC 129 0013 |
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| 33 | 33 | | exceptionally educated professionals and successful entrepreneurs in a variety of fields, all |
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| 34 | 34 | | 15 |
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| 35 | 35 | | while continuing to observe and celebrate their rich Tamil cultural heritage; and16 |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Georgia Tamils are committed to sharing their vibrant culture, rich traditions,17 |
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| 37 | 37 | | and longstanding history with the people of Georgia by celebrating January 14, 2025, as18 |
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| 38 | 38 | | Tamil Thai Pongal.19 |
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| 39 | 39 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that20 |
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| 40 | 40 | | the members of this body recognize January 14, 2025, as Tamil Thai Pongal Day in the State21 |
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| 41 | 41 | | of Georgia as well as commend the Georgia Tamil community for their ongoing22 |
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| 42 | 42 | | contributions to our state.23 |
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| 43 | 43 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized24 |
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| 44 | 44 | | and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the25 |
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| 45 | 45 | | public and the press.26 |
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| 46 | 46 | | H. R. 25 |
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| 47 | 47 | | - 2 - |
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