Congressman takes steps to make October designated as Hindu Heritage Month

Hindu Americans celebrate Diwali in Minnesota.

Illinois Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi  submitted a statement in the House of Representatives Sept. 30, 2021, on recognizing October as Hindu Heritage Month. 

The statement is now part of the U.S. Congressional Record, the official daily record of proceedings in Congress. (His statement can be found in the Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 172 of Oct. 1.)

“I believe this acknowledgment is especially timely, given the disturbing rise of prejudice and racism in this country, including Hinduphobia as manifested in hateful speech and violent acts perpetrated against Indian Americans and Hindu houses of worship,” said Krishnamoorth,

Krishnamoorthi said that Hindu Americans are guided by Swami Vivekananda’s call to service and respect for all religions and all people. He said the Hindu religion dates back millennia and has profoundly influenced both ancient and modern cultures.

"Its message of religious tolerance, non-violence, and the universality of the human experience was introduced to this country in 1893 by Swami Vivekananda in his landmark address at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, Illinois," he said.

October holds a special significance as it is the birth month of Mahatma Gandhi and is often when Diwali is held. This resolution brings local awareness in recognizing and acknowledging the significant contributions made by Hindu Americans and seeks to increase awareness and understanding of the Hindu American community.

Several states including New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, Texas, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Minnesota, Virginia and Massachusetts have proclaimed October as Hindu Heritage Month, according to the website hindumonth.org, as have several cities like Dallas, TX, and La Palma, CA.

California has marked Hindu Heritage Month for several years. The bill being first passed in California recognizes that this is the state with the largest Hindu American population in the United States.

October holds a special significance as it is the birth month of Mahatma Gandhi and is often when Diwali is held. This resolution brings local awareness in recognizing and acknowledging the significant contributions made by Hindu Americans and seeks to increase awareness and understanding of the Hindu American community.

California has marked Hindu Heritage Month for several years.  The state  is home to the largest Hindu American community in the U.S.

Hindus are primarily an immigrant community and first started immigrating to California and the United States in the early 1900s, and came in increasing numbers after the lifting of the Asian Exclusion Act of 1924 in 1943 and the abolishment of quotas for immigrants based on national origin in 1965.

The first Hindu temple in the United States was built in San Francisco, and at the dedication of the temple on January 7,1906, it was proclaimed to be the “First Hindu Temple in the Whole Western World.” There are now over 120 Hindu temples, religious centers, and cultural centers throughout California, and the greater bay area is home to over 40 of those temples and centers.