தீபாவளி அமெரிக்க அரசாங்கத்தால் அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட செனட் பில்

செனட்டர் ராபர்ட் மெனண்டெஸ், செனட்டர் ஜான் கோரின் ஆகியோர் தீபாவளியை அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட அமெரிக்க திருநாளாக ஆக்க பில் ஒன்றை செனட்டில் கொண்டுவந்திருக்கிறார்கள்.

ஜைனர்களும், சீக்கியர்களும், இந்துக்களும் கொண்டாடும் தீபாவளியை அங்கீகரிப்பதன் மூலம் வளர்ந்து வரும் இந்து மக்கள்தொகையை பிரதிபலிக்கும் என்று கூறுகிறார்கள்.

வாழ்க வளமுடன்

US Senate Bill to Recognize Diwali
INDOlink News Bureau

Washington, DC; August 23, 2007 - Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced Senate Resolution 299, "recognizing the religious and historical significance of the festival of Diwali.”. The resolution affirms the importance of the festival in the lives of millions of Hindus, Jains and Sikhs in the United States. This is now a bicameral effort, following the introduction of House Resolution 245, cosponsored by Rep. Joe Wilson (R- SC) and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) earlier this year.
Senator Menendez said, "With over 180,000 Indian Americans living in New Jersey today, I am proud to have introduced a resolution to recognize the religious and historical significance of the festival of Diwali. It is important that we celebrate the great diversity that makes up and strengthens our national fabric, and it gives me great pride to commemorate what Diwali stands for -- a time to be with family, and to pray for health, knowledge, and peace."
Perhaps the most widely recognized Hindu festival, Diwali/Deepavali will be celebrated globally this year on November 9. Diwali, or Deepvali, is known as the "Festival of Lights," referring to the rows of earthen lamps celebrants place around their homes. The light symbolizes the victory of knowledge over ignorance, and goodness over evil. It further represents an awareness of God in our lives.

In addition to its symbolic significance, many Hindus believe that Diwali marks the day that Lord Rama returned from a forced exile after defeating the ultimate force of evil in His time. The festival is celebrated over five days throughout India, marking the end of the Hindu calendar year. In addition to Hindus, Sikhs celebrate Diwali in commemoration of the release of the Sixth Guru, Hargobind, from captivity by the Mughal Emperor Jehangir. Jains recognize Diwali as the day Lord Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras, attained Nirvana, or liberation, after his death in 527 BCE.

This Bill is in the first step of the legislative process. Introduced Bills must be deliberated and revised within committee before general debate.