[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 816 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 816

                   Recognizing the holiday of Diwali.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 4, 2004

 Mr. Crowley submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                   the Committee on Government Reform

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                               RESOLUTION


 
                   Recognizing the holiday of Diwali.

Whereas Diwali is an annual festival celebrated by many South Asians and is 
        particularly significant to Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains;
Whereas for nearly 2,000,000 Indian Americans, Diwali is a time for 
        thanksgiving, and prayer, for health, knowledge, and peace;
Whereas Diwali falls on the last day of the last month in the lunar calendar and 
        is celebrated as the beginning of the New Year by Hindus and Jains;
Whereas the word ``Diwali'' is a version of the Sanskrit word ``Deepavali'', 
        which means a row of lamps;
Whereas Diwali is a festival of lights, celebrated in part by the lighting and 
        display of small oil lamps throughout the home and the community;
Whereas Hindu celebrants of Diwali believe that the rows of lamps symbolize the 
        light within the individual that rids the soul of the darkness of 
        ignorance;
Whereas for Hindus, Diwali is a celebration of the return of god following the 
        vanquishing of demonic forces;
Whereas for Sikhs, Diwali is feted as the day on which the 6th founding Sikh 
        guru, Guru Hargobind, was released from captivity by the Mughal Emperor 
        Jehangir;
Whereas for Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the attainment of Nirvana by 
        Lord Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras (founders of the Jain 
        philosophy); and
Whereas Diwali is a celebration of great importance in Indian-American 
        communities throughout the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the historical and cultural significance of 
        Diwali; and
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        recognizing Diwali.
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