State Legislature considers recognizing Indian holiday If approved, Diwali month would run from Oct. 15- Nov. 14 BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer EDISON - Two state legislators have taken steps to further accent the state's diversity by introducing legislation to recognize the Indian holiday of Diwali. Senator Barbara Buono (D-18) and Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (D-16) are seeking hearings on duplicate legislation in both houses that would make Oct. 15 through Nov. 14, Diwali month, a festival that celebrates, among other things, the Hindu God's defeat of demonic forces. Buono, who said she was approached with the idea from Assemblyman Chivukula and hopes to see the legislation enacted by the end of the current session in June, believes that recognizing Diwali is a chance to celebrate not just the holiday itself but core values as Americans. "One of the best things about being an American is the great tradition of inclusion, honoring differences," Buono said. Buono admits inclusion has not always been an easy task. "Sometimes the road can be bumpy," Buono said. "We live in a great country and we need to celebrate our differences. The more we know about one another the more understanding it promotes and the more tolerance as well." Diwali is a holiday rooted in many different faiths. For Hindus it represents the defeat of demonic forces while for Sikhs it recognizes the very real liberation of Guru Hargobind from captivity. For Jains, Diwali represents the liberation of an entire people from repression. It is a holiday that, with the influx of South Asian immigrants especially in Middlesex County, is gaining in participation and relevance throughout New Jersey. "It is a reflection of the presence of Asian Indians in our area," Buono said of Diwali. "It presents the opportunity for me to learn and participate in their festivals and their traditions." For Buono, introducing this legislation was "a natural progression." "It was a natural progression as a result of the Asian Indian community having become more involved in the social fabric of our society," Buono said. "This was a reflection of that." Mehad Shah, a South Brunswick resident and member of that town's Planning Board strongly feels that the state should recognize Diwali because the Indian community has become ever more involved in the cultural fabric of Middlesex county. "The Indian community is very integral in business and there are good things the community is contributing toward politics," Shah said. "It definitely should be considered by the state as far as I can see." Recognizing Diwali may also be a way to entice more South Asians into getting involved in the political process which Shah said could be even more relevant for second or third generation immigrants. "We want to bring this community as far as we can because we are looking at a new generation," Shah said. "The second generation, when they come, they will also be contributing the same thing." Buono said that Diwali is a festival of life and recognizing it on a state level can be considered a vehicle for understanding. "It really is a wonderful celebration of life," Buono said. "It stands for a time of the year when people put aside their differences and celebrate family and social lives. We can certainly learn a lot from one another. It is one of the vehicles to learn from other people's holidays and traditions and cultures."