89R4773 HMR-D
By: Lalani H.R. No. 41
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Diwali, the festival of lights, is being celebrated
across the world by followers of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and
Buddhism in October 2025; and
WHEREAS, The five-day-long celebration derives its name from
the Sanskrit word dipavali, meaning "row of lights," and it is one
of the largest and most anticipated religious festivals for
adherents of the Hindu, Jain, and Sikh faiths; it spans the dark
half of the lunar month Ashvina and the light half of the lunar
month Karttika, a period that typically falls in late October or
early November on the Gregorian calendar; and
WHEREAS, While Diwali generally symbolizes the victory of
light over darkness, the specific traditions associated with the
holiday vary between regions and religions; Hindus customarily
light diyas, small earthenware lamps filled with oil, on the night
of the new moon to welcome the presence of Lakshmi, the goddess of
wealth and prosperity; the people of Bengal worship the goddess
Kali, while in northern India, the festival celebrates the royal
homecoming of Rama to the city of Ayodhya after vanquishing the king
of demons; in South India, festivities center around another story
of good prevailing over evil, the legend of Krishna's defeat of the
demon Narakasura; and
WHEREAS, For Sikhs, Diwali commemorates the return of Guru
Hargobind, the sixth guru and an important figure in the Sikh faith,
from his captivity in the city of Gwalior; Diwali also holds
tremendous significance to people of the Jain faith, for whom it
represents Mahavira's attainment of nirvana, or complete knowledge
and enlightenment; although it is not a major festival of Buddhism,
it is celebrated by some Buddhists to honor Emperor Ashoka's
conversion to Buddhism in the third century BCE; and
WHEREAS, Diwali is a celebration for people of all ages; in
many homes, wives perform a series of rituals to bless their
husbands with longevity, and husbands present their wives with a
special gift to reward their care and devotion; families, friends,
and colleagues alike also exchange gifts during Diwali as a gesture
of love and affection, and the occasion further includes a feast
complete with a variety of desserts; children participate in a
range of customs, which include lighting diyas and candles and
setting off sparklers, and the final day of the festival
specifically celebrates the bond shared by brothers and sisters;
and
WHEREAS, Every year, the festival of Diwali brings together
more than a billion people across the globe in the spirit of joy,
unity, and hope for humankind, and it is indeed fitting to
acknowledge the profound importance of the holiday to many who
reside in our state; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize the festival of Diwali 2025 and extend
warmest wishes to all those who are taking part in the observance.