| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The festival of Diwali, a holiday celebrated by |
|
|
followers of Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, is taking place during |
|
|
the first week of November 2021; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, For people of these faiths, Diwali represents the |
|
|
symbolic victory of light over darkness; while celebrants observe |
|
|
different national, regional, and religious customs, the |
|
|
five-day-long event is generally regarded as a time of happiness |
|
|
and benevolence, when people come together and express gratitude |
|
|
for their blessings; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Among Hindus, a common Diwali custom is to light |
|
|
diyas, or small lamps filled with oils; the custom is performed to |
|
|
invite Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, into one's home, and |
|
|
throughout the festival, diyas are also lit and placed around |
|
|
temples and floated down rivers and streams; in the Jain community, |
|
|
Diwali represents the enlightenment and liberation of the spiritual |
|
|
teacher Mahavira from the cycle of life and death, with the |
|
|
illumination of lamps around homes symbolizing the light of |
|
|
Mahavira's holy knowledge; for the Sikhs, Diwali commemorates an |
|
|
important event in the Sikh tradition, the release of a prominent |
|
|
holy figure, Guru Hargobind, from imprisonment; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Celebrated by more than a billion people across the |
|
|
globe, Diwali is a holiday that is richly varied in its customs, |
|
|
rituals, and significance, and it is fitting to acknowledge the |
|
|
great importance that Diwali has to those of the Hindu, Jain, and |
|
|
Sikh faiths who reside in the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize the festival of Diwali 2021 and extend |
|
|
to all those participating in the observance sincere best wishes |
|
|
for a meaningful and memorable occasion. |
| |
|
|
Jetton |
|
|
Shaheen |
|
|
Oliverson |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1012 was adopted by the House on May |
|
|
14, 2021, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |