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Senate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SR 286: Diwali Day; recognize October 20, 2025

Last action February 27, 2025 · Senate Read and Adopted

A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes October 20, 2025 as Diwali Day, honoring the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain festival of lights celebrated by many Georgians.

Read the full resolution text

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The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.

In plain language

This resolution from the Georgia Senate designates October 20, 2025 as Diwali Day. It does not change any law; it is a symbolic statement recognizing the significance of Diwali (also called Deepavali), a festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains around the world and by many Georgians. The resolution describes the festival's meaning, including its themes of charity, selfless service, renewal, and the triumph of positivity over adversity, and notes that celebrants light oil lamps and pray for health, knowledge, and peace. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and the press, but it creates no new rights, funding, or legal requirements.

What the bill does

  • Formally designates October 20, 2025 as Diwali Day through a Senate resolution.
  • Describes the cultural and religious significance of Diwali for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains.
  • Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.
  • Creates no new law, funding, or enforceable requirement, since it is a resolution rather than a bill.

Who it affects

Georgians who celebrate Diwali, including members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain communities, along with the general public who may see this symbolic recognition distributed by the Senate.

Why it matters

While the resolution has no legal effect, it represents official recognition by the Georgia Senate of a major religious and cultural festival observed by tens of thousands of Georgians, which can carry symbolic value for those communities.

Key provisions

  • The resolution's preamble (the 'whereas' clauses) explains Diwali's origins, its five-day duration, and its themes of charity and renewal.
  • The operative resolving clause recognizes October 20, 2025 as Diwali Day.
  • A further resolution clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press.

From the bill

“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize October 20, 2025, as Diwali Day.”

This is the resolution's core action, formally recognizing the date as Diwali Day.

“Diwali is known as a time for dana and seva—the giving of charity and selfless service to our fellow humans”

Describes one of the cultural and religious meanings of the festival cited in the resolution.

Status timeline

  1. 2025-02-27Senate Read and Adopted (Senate)
  2. 2025-02-26Senate Hopper (Senate)

Sponsors

  • Shawn Still (R, SD-48)Primary sponsor
  • Emanuel Jones (D, SD-10)
  • Jason Esteves (D, SD-35)

Topics

  • Diwali
  • religious recognition
  • Georgia Senate resolution
  • cultural heritage

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Answers come from this document. Not legal advice.

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SR286: Diwali Day; recognize October 20, 2025 | Georgia Commons