Res 0646-2026

Res. No. 646 Resolution declaring October as Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month in the City of New York By Council Members Farías, J. Sanchez, Maloney, Gennaro, Schulman, Narcisse and Louis Whereas, Hinduism is the third-largest world religion, with more than one billion followers in over 100 countries, including more than three million in the United States (U.S.); and Whereas, Hindu Americans in the U.S. come from many racial, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds, including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Malaysian, Indonesian, Afghani, Nepali, Bhutanese, Sri Lankan, Fijian, Caribbean, and European; and Whereas, Hindu Heritage Month is a global initiative honoring Hinduism worldwide each October; and Whereas, According to the Hindu American Foundation, it is fitting that October is the month chosen to celebrate Hinduism because it is often the month in which important Hindu holidays, such as Navaratri and Diwali, occur; and Whereas, U.S. House of Representatives Resolution (H.Res.) 1131, introduced on April 10, 2024, by U.S. Representative Thanedar Shri, celebrated the “contributions by Hindu Americans in every aspect of our Nation’s economy and in every industry” as well as Hindu traditions and practices that “have greatly enriched” the U.S.; and Whereas, In 2023, the New York State Senate adopted Resolution Number 828, which called for Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim October as Hindu Heritage Month, stating that it would provide “a platform for Hindus around the world to come together to highlight their rich cultural and religious legacy . . . [and to] showcase their achievements” and noting that Hindu Americans in New York State have “contributed tremendously to the vitality of the State and enriched the lives of its citizens” through contributions in the fields of science, technology, business, and politics; and Whereas, Since 2013, the Hindu American Foundation has campaigned for the recognition of October as Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month (HAAAM) to focus more specifically on the past and present experiences and contributions of the Hindu-American community in the U.S.; and Whereas, On May 18, 2026, Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 207 was introduced in the California State Assembly to designate October 2026 as HAAAM statewide to recognize and increase awareness of the Hindu-American community in California and to “condemn all hate crimes and bias incidents against Hindu Americans, Hindu temples and centers, and places of significance to the Hindu American community”; and Whereas, Hindus began immigrating to the U.S. in the early 1900s and then came in greater numbers after the lifting of the Asian Exclusion Act of 1924 in 1943 and again after the ending of quotas based on national origin in 1965; and Whereas, Over many decades, Hindu Americans have distinguished themselves in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, engineering, law, technology, business, medicine and wellness, education, and the arts, especially classical Indian art, dance, and music; and Whereas, Today, 70 percent of Hindu adults in the U.S. have a bachelor’s degree or higher, making them the best educated of any American religious group, according to the Pew Research Center; and Whereas, In 2024, about 2 percent of adults in the New York City (NYC) metropolitan area identified as Hindu, according to the Pew Research Center; and Whereas, The NYC communities of Jackson Heights in Queens, Kensington in Brooklyn, Parkchester in the Bronx, and Tompkinsville in Staten Island are well known for their Indian, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan roots and their cultural sites, shops, restaurants, and activities; and Whereas, Hindu Americans have long enriched the multiethnic diversity of NYC workplaces and neighborhoods; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York declares October as Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month in the City of New York. LS #26246 9/17/2026 RHP