H.R. No. 86

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Diwali, the festival of lights, is being celebrated
	across the world by followers of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and
	Buddhism on November 12, 2023; and
	WHEREAS, The five-day-long celebration derives its name from
	the Sanskrit word dipavali, meaning "row of lights," and it is one
	of the largest and most anticipated religious festivals for
	adherents of the Hindu, Jain, and Sikh faiths; it spans the dark
	half of the lunar month Ashvina and the light half of the lunar
	month Karttika, which typically falls in late October and November
	on the Gregorian calendar; and
	WHEREAS, While Diwali generally symbolizes the victory of
	light over darkness, the specific traditions associated with the
	holiday vary between regions and religions; Hindus customarily
	light diyas, small earthenware lamps filled with oil, on the night
	of the new moon to welcome the presence of Lakshmi, the goddess of
	wealth and prosperity; the people of Bengal worship the goddess
	Kali, while in northern India, the festival celebrates the royal
	homecoming of Rama to the city of Ayodhya after vanquishing the king
	of demons; in South India, festivities center around another story
	of good prevailing over evil, the legend of Krishna's defeat of the
	demon Narakasura; and
	WHEREAS, For Sikhs, Diwali commemorates the return of Guru
	Hargobind, the sixth guru and an important figure in the Sikh faith,
	from his captivity in the city of Gwalior; Diwali also holds
	tremendous significance to people of the Jain faith, for whom it
	represents Mahavira's attainment of nirvana, or complete knowledge
	and enlightenment; although it is not a major festival of Buddhism,
	it is celebrated by some Buddhists to honor Emperor Ashoka's
	conversion to Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE; and
	WHEREAS, Diwali is a celebration for people of all ages; in
	many homes, wives perform a series of rituals to bless their
	husbands with longevity, and husbands present their wives with a
	special gift to reward their care and devotion; families, friends,
	and colleagues alike also exchange gifts during Diwali as a gesture
	of love and affection, and the occasion further includes a feast
	complete with a variety of desserts; children participate in a
	range of customs, which include lighting diyas and candles and
	setting off sparklers, and the final day of the festival
	specifically celebrates the bond shared by brothers and sisters;
	and
	WHEREAS, Every year, the festival of Diwali brings together
	more than a billion people across the globe in the spirit of joy,
	unity, and hope for humankind, and it is indeed fitting to
	acknowledge the profound importance of the holiday to many who
	reside in our state; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
	Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby recognize the festival of
	Diwali 2023 and extend warmest wishes to all those who are taking
	part in the observance.
	Lalani
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 86 was adopted by the House on
	November 1, 2023, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House