Diwali named a school holiday

Gov. Hochul signed legislation on Tuesday at a Diwali celebration in Flushing that officially made the day a citywide school holiday. Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is one of the holiest days of the year for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers.

The legislation was carried by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr., both of whom lauded the governor for signing it into law in a press release.

“Let us strive to embrace the spirit of Diwali not only during this festive season but also in our daily lives, by spreading love, light and happiness to those around us,” Addabbo said.

“I was proud to lead and win the fight for the Diwali school holiday this year,” said Rajkumar. “Today, my historic Diwali bill is officially signed into law.”

Hochul wrote, “New York City is rich in different religions and cultures, and we’re taking an important step to recognize and celebrate this diversity in the school calendar.”

— Kristen Guglielmo

According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 10.7 percent of New Yorkers have been diagnosed with the condition — 11 percent in Queens — and it’s estimated that 456,000 individuals in the state unknowingly have it.

The event commenced with a cooking demonstration conducted by Cornell University Cooperative Extension-NYC. Attendees observed the preparation of ratatouille, a French vegetable stew.

Danny Morales, the director of agriculture at the Queens County Farm Museum, encouraged attendees to garden and provided tomato seeds for them to get started.

Jane Giordano, a certified diabetes educator and dietitian at St. Francis DeMatteis Center/Catholic Health, taught attendees