NYC Mayor Eric Adams Welcomes Thousands to Gracie Mansion Diwali Celebration

October 26 :
Attended by more than a thousand people, the annual Diwali festival at Gracie Mansion on October 24, 2024, was a lively affair that showcased the ethnic variety and communal spirit of New York City, according to Mayor Eric Adams. As a result of a campaign spearheaded by State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, Diwali was formally acknowledged as a citywide school holiday this year, adding another milestone to the festival.

They literally call him the Hindu mayor, Rajkumar said, praising the mayor's dedication to the Indian American community. If I were to approach the mayor and suggest that we declare Diwali a school holiday, he would respond with an emphatic "yes"—as if nothing was impossible. He was instrumental in having a hate crime at Tulsi Mandir labeled as anti-Hindu, and she recalled his standing with the community during that time.

Attended by more than a thousand people, the annual Diwali festival at Gracie Mansion on October 24, 2024, was a lively affair that showcased the ethnic variety and communal spirit of New York City, according to Mayor Eric Adams. As a result of a campaign spearheaded by State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, Diwali was formally acknowledged as a citywide school holiday this year, adding another milestone to the festival.