Guest guest Posted November 3, 2007 Report Share Posted November 3, 2007 Good point, Paulie. Shrug. In any case, based on the text of the resolution, it seems to be utterly non-binding -- a symbolic move. TEXT OF House Resolution 747 October 29, 2007. Whereas Diwali, a festival of great significance to Indian Americans and the people of India, is celebrated annually by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains throughout the United States and the world; Whereas there are more than 2,000,000 Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains in the United States; Whereas the word `Diwali' is a shortened version of the Sanskrit term `Deepavali', which means `a row of lamps'; Whereas Diwali is a festival of lights, during which celebrants light small oil lamps, place them around the home, and pray for health, knowledge, and peace; Whereas 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 Diwali, falling on the last day of the last month in the lunar calendar, is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving and the beginning of the new year for many Hindus; Whereas for Hindus, Diwali is a celebration of the victory of good over evil; Whereas for Sikhs, Diwali is feted as the day that the sixth founding Sikh Guru, or revered teacher, Guru Hargobind ji, was released from captivity from the ruling Mughal Emperor; and Whereas for Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the attainment of moksha or liberation by Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras, who were the great teachers of Jain dharma, at the end of his life in 527 B.C.: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) during this time of celebration, in order to demonstrate support for Indian Americans and the Indian Diaspora throughout the world, recognizes Diwali as an important festival; (2) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of the festival of Diwali; (3) recognizes and appreciates the religious diversity in both India and the United States and throughout the world; (4) acknowledges and supports the new relationship of collaboration and dialogue in international efforts between the United States and India; and (5) in observance of and out of respect for the start of Diwali, the festival of lights, acknowledges the onset of Diwali and expresses its deepest respect to Indian Americans and the Indian Diaspora throughout the world on this significant occasion. http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2007/10/us-congress- may-formally-recognise.html , " prainbow61 " <paulie- rainbow wrote: > > Namaste, > > I'm having trouble with this quote: " The US lower house has passed a > legislation to accept Deepavali as a festival in the US also. " > > I think that congress is actually forbidden by our constitution to annoint religious festivals. > > Also, because of the same freedom of religion clause, it doesn't take recognition by a > government body for a religious body within the U.S. to practice or " accept " a religious > celebration. > > Just what could this mean? > > Blessings, > > pr > > > , " msbauju " <msbauju@> wrote: > > > > Deepavali Is In The Air > > The Mangalorean > > > > > > [....] The US lower house has passed a > > legislation to accept Deepavali as a festival in the US also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 4, 2007 Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 Well, that's actually kind of cool. Thanks for finding that! Namaste, pr , " msbauju " <msbauju wrote: > > Good point, Paulie. Shrug. In any case, based on the text of the > resolution, it seems to be utterly non-binding -- a symbolic > move. > > TEXT OF House Resolution 747 > > October 29, 2007. > > Whereas Diwali, a festival of great significance to > Indian Americans and the people of India, is celebrated > annually by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains > throughout the United States and the world; > > Whereas there are more than 2,000,000 Hindus, Sikhs, > Buddhists, and Jains in the United States; > > Whereas the word `Diwali' is a shortened version of the > Sanskrit term `Deepavali', which means `a row of > lamps'; > > Whereas Diwali is a festival of lights, during which > celebrants light small oil lamps, place them around the > home, and pray for health, knowledge, and peace; > > Whereas 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 Diwali, falling on the last day of the last month > in the lunar calendar, is celebrated as a day of > thanksgiving and the beginning of the new year for > many Hindus; > > Whereas for Hindus, Diwali is a celebration of the > victory of good over evil; > > Whereas for Sikhs, Diwali is feted as the day that the > sixth founding Sikh Guru, or revered teacher, Guru > Hargobind ji, was released from captivity from the > ruling Mughal Emperor; and > > Whereas for Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the > attainment of moksha or liberation by Mahavira, the last > of the Tirthankaras, who were the great teachers of Jain > dharma, at the end of his life in 527 B.C.: Now, > therefore, be it > > Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- > > (1) during this time of celebration, in order to > demonstrate support for Indian Americans and the > Indian Diaspora throughout the world, recognizes > Diwali as an important festival; > > (2) acknowledges the international religious and > historical importance of the festival of Diwali; > > (3) recognizes and appreciates the religious diversity in > both India and the United States and throughout the > world; > > (4) acknowledges and supports the new relationship of > collaboration and dialogue in international efforts > between the United States and India; and > > (5) in observance of and out of respect for the start of > Diwali, the festival of lights, acknowledges the onset of > Diwali and expresses its deepest respect to Indian > Americans and the Indian Diaspora throughout the > world on this significant occasion. > > > http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2007/10/us-congress- > may-formally-recognise.html > > > > > , " prainbow61 " <paulie- > rainbow@> wrote: > > > > Namaste, > > > > I'm having trouble with this quote: " The US lower house has passed a > > legislation to accept Deepavali as a festival in the US also. " > > > > I think that congress is actually forbidden by our constitution to > annoint religious festivals. > > > > Also, because of the same freedom of religion clause, it doesn't > take recognition by a > > government body for a religious body within the U.S. to practice > or " accept " a religious > > celebration. > > > > Just what could this mean? > > > > Blessings, > > > > pr > > > > > > , " msbauju " <msbauju@> wrote: > > > > > > Deepavali Is In The Air > > > The Mangalorean > > > > > > > > [....] The US lower house has passed a > > > legislation to accept Deepavali as a festival in the US also. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 9, 2007 Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 U.S. House Recognizes South Asian Festival of Lights Hindus, Jains, Sikhs celebrate Diwali in the United States USINFO Staff Writer 07 November 2007 Washington D.C. As South Asian Americans prepared for one of their biggest traditional holidays, legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution recognizing the significance of Diwali, the " festival of lights. " The resolution (H. Res. 747) passed by a vote of 358-0 on October 29, with 204 Democrats and 154 Republicans supporting it. The action not only acknowledges an important feast in the Hindu, Sikh and Jain religions, but recognizes the importance of the South Asian community in the United States. South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson, who sponsored the resolution, said it marks " the international, religious and historical importance of the festival of Diwali as well as the religious diversity in India and throughout the world. " He said the resolution also " recognizes the importance of Indian Americans - - a strong and vibrant immigrant community. " " Diwali is celebrated as victory of good over evil for some and as a remembrance of liberation for others, " Representative John Tanner of Tennessee said. " t is a tribute to the diversity of India and to our country that we have such a rich religious heritage in our societies. By celebrating Diwali, we also are celebrating this diversity, a shared value that has brought the United States and India closer together throughout the years, " he added. More than 2 million people celebrate Diwali in the United States. A TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS Diwali, from the Sanskrit deepavali or " row of lamps, " is associated chiefly with the Hindu religion. The goddess Lakshmi and god Ganesh are worshipped for prosperity and good fortune, and lamps are lit to signify the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil. Its date varies because it falls on the new moon in the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November). The feast coincides with the day on which Jains believe Lord Mahavira, founder of Jainism, attained enlightenment, so Jains also celebrate it. Sikhs observe Diwali in association with historical events in their religion: Bandi Chor Diwas -- the release of the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind ji from imprisonment by the Mughal Emperor Jehangir -- and the martyrdom of scholar Bhai Mani Singh. In the United States, Indian Americans come together to celebrate Diwali just as they do in India. Lamps around the house are lit to attract blessings and harmony. Prayers are offered at home and in temples. Families come together, exchange gifts, give traditional sweets to friends and associates, and have a good time. Diwali melas, or fairs, are held across the country wherever there is a concentration of Indian Americans: from California to New York, New Jersey, Texas and Georgia. Vendors sell typical Diwali gifts of ethnic clothing, jewelry, Hindi music CDs and DVDs of Bollywood films. Hindi singers and folk artists perform; bhangra is danced. B. P. Shah, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of the District of Columbia, helped organize an annual Diwali mela in the nation's capital. He told USINFO the November 3 event drew about 7,000 people despite chilly weather. The 15- year-old mela is sponsored by the Association of United Hindu & Jain Temples (UHJT). It offered food, music and shopping and ended with a large fireworks display. Shah, who has lived in the United States since 1958, devotes his extra time to serving the community through India House of Worship in Silver Spring, Maryland, which provides a community center for Indian Americans of all religions and regions. It is among the 14 UHJT area co-organizers of Diwali events. " This celebration presents all of us with the opportunity to reflect on the many ways in which people, history and traditions of India, and elsewhere in South Asia, have contributed to the rich cultural mosaic that is the United States of America, " Florida Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said on the House floor before the resolution was passed. She added, " America's extraordinary diversity is one of our nation's most enduring strengths. " Earlier in October, the House passed a similar resolution recognizing the Muslim observance of Ramadan. [....] > > > > TEXT OF House Resolution 747 > > > > October 29, 2007. > > > > Whereas Diwali, a festival of great significance to > > Indian Americans and the people of India, is celebrated > > annually by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains > > throughout the United States and the world; > > > > Whereas there are more than 2,000,000 Hindus, Sikhs, > > Buddhists, and Jains in the United States; > > > > Whereas the word `Diwali' is a shortened version of the > > Sanskrit term `Deepavali', which means `a row of > > lamps'; > > > > Whereas Diwali is a festival of lights, during which > > celebrants light small oil lamps, place them around the > > home, and pray for health, knowledge, and peace; > > > > Whereas 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 Diwali, falling on the last day of the last month > > in the lunar calendar, is celebrated as a day of > > thanksgiving and the beginning of the new year for > > many Hindus; > > > > Whereas for Hindus, Diwali is a celebration of the > > victory of good over evil; > > > > Whereas for Sikhs, Diwali is feted as the day that the > > sixth founding Sikh Guru, or revered teacher, Guru > > Hargobind ji, was released from captivity from the > > ruling Mughal Emperor; and > > > > Whereas for Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the > > attainment of moksha or liberation by Mahavira, the last > > of the Tirthankaras, who were the great teachers of Jain > > dharma, at the end of his life in 527 B.C.: Now, > > therefore, be it > > > > Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- > > > > (1) during this time of celebration, in order to > > demonstrate support for Indian Americans and the > > Indian Diaspora throughout the world, recognizes > > Diwali as an important festival; > > > > (2) acknowledges the international religious and > > historical importance of the festival of Diwali; > > > > (3) recognizes and appreciates the religious diversity in > > both India and the United States and throughout the > > world; > > > > (4) acknowledges and supports the new relationship of > > collaboration and dialogue in international efforts > > between the United States and India; and > > > > (5) in observance of and out of respect for the start of > > Diwali, the festival of lights, acknowledges the onset of > > Diwali and expresses its deepest respect to Indian > > Americans and the Indian Diaspora throughout the > > world on this significant occasion. > > > > > > http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2007/10/us-congress- > > may-formally-recognise.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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