New York: New York City Council woman Linda Lee has passed a resolution to declare Diwali (Hindu festival of lights) as a public holiday for school students.

In her Twitter page, Lee shared a video where she called upon the Department of Education to recognize Diwali as an official holiday for students in New York.

She wrote: "We can’t fully appreciate #NYC's great diversity of culture when one-fifth of our students must choose between attending class and celebrating traditions with family. Today we passed a historic resolution to call on
@NYCSchoolsto make Diwali an official school holiday!"

New York state Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar also confirmed the issue and posted on Twitter: "BREAKING: People’s champion
@CMLindaLee passes a resolution supporting the Diwali School Holiday & speaks in support of our Diwali bill A.628. Watch her speech below."

Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights.

It is related to Jain Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti, Sohrai, and Bandna.

It is one of the most important festivals within Hinduism where it generally lasts five days (or six in some regions of India), and is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin (according to the amanta tradition) and Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November).