HARTFORD, CT — State Sen. Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, D-22nd, could not attend Gov. Ned Lamont’s signing of a bill recognizing Diwali as a state holiday due to a scheduling conflict, but she tapped Riya Pooskur, a Masuk High School student, to read a statement in her place.
“Her comments and her reading of the speech were well received,” Gadkar-Wilcox said. “It was so nice to have Riya there for this celebratory moment. She is an amazing young leader!”
“I had such a great experience speaking on behalf of Senator Gadkar-Wilcox at the bill signing,” Pooskur said. “I’ll admit I was a little nervous to speak in front of so many of our state leaders, but I felt so encouraged and supported by everyone there. Meeting the inspiring leaders who pushed this initiative forward was truly meaningful, and I’m very grateful I had the chance to be part of such an important event for our community.”
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by millions of people around the world, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Among those who celebrate are Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
Senate Bill 1519, is known as the Diwali bill. Below is Gadkar-Wilcox’s statement on the holiday:
Congratulations to all on this extraordinary achievement of the recognition of Diwali as a state holiday. I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there with you all to celebrate this moment. I am incredibly grateful to our extraordinary student leader Riya for agreeing to read this speech for me – and for being an example of how our future will also be shaped by so many community leaders, award winners, and industry heads who are themselves of South Asian descent.
I am especially honored to be Connecticut’s first Indian State Senator ever! We see so much of India in Connecticut, from the global level, such as Governor Lamont’s recently announced strategic partnership with India, to the state level, where Cayla Kumar was named Miss Connecticut 2025, to the local, where in New Haven Elm City Productions just put on a fantastic Bollywood version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Like me, many of you of South Asian origin also know what it’s like for you or your children to have to repeat their names multiple times, explain what they’re wearing, or what’s in their lunchbox. It took a whole election cycle to get people to feel comfortable saying my name!
So what this legislation does is help create a familiar narrative. It helps the public learn about Diwali, so when we share with an employer that we will be taking off for a religious holiday – or to our schools that our children will be home for the day — it needs no further explanation.
I’m so proud to live in Connecticut, where our friends and neighbors value and appreciate the achievements and culture of the South Asian community. This state is only the second in the nation to recognize Diwali as a holiday. And just as the villagers lit the diyas to welcome Ram home from the forest, our neighbors, friends, and legislators have lit a light for us, helping us find our way home right here in Connecticut.
Congratulations again to all of you who worked so hard to make this legislation a reality, and congratulations to us in Connecticut, where we appreciate the value of a rich, plural, and diverse society!
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