Diwali Resolution Passes by Overwhelming Margin in House of Representatives

October 29, 2007

Source: Hindu American Foundation

http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/media_press_release_747_passes.htm

Washington, DC (October 29, 2007). Leaders of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) were jubilant late today as a bill recognizing "the religious and historical significance of the festival of Diwali" passed in the full House of Representatives by a mammoth margin of 358 to 0. House resolution 747 was introduced jointly by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Jim McDermott (D-WA) and with its passage becomes the first bill to ever pass the House recognizing a Hindu festival that is also marked by Sikhs and Jains. Intending to have the bill passed prior to November 9, when Diwali will be celebrated this year, the bill was introduced and passed in the Foreign Affairs Committee last week and moved quickly to the successful full vote today.