Maryland Becomes First US State to Recognize Nepali Festival Dashain as Commemorative Day: Governor Signs Bill

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has signed the Dashain Commemorative Day bill into law, making Maryland the first state in the US to officially recognize the festival. Governor Moore, the first Black Governor in Maryland’s history and the third African American elected Governor in the US, signed the bill on Wednesday. The bill had passed the state House and Senate the previous month and was introduced by Delegate Dr. Harry Bhandari.

The bill requires the Governor to proclaim October 5th as Dashain Day annually, and it amends sections of the Annotated Code of Maryland (7–416 through 7–418) to include Dashain under the General Provisions article, with the new section numbers being 7–417 through 7–419. The law will take effect on October 1st, 2023, officially recognizing the celebration and sharing of Nepali culture with fellow Marylanders.

The bill acknowledges that Dashain Day is a festival originating in Nepal that celebrates and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated in multiple parts of South Asia and globally, including in Maryland. The festival lasts up to 15 days and is rooted in cultural beliefs of unity and diversity. The spiritual Sanskrit phrase “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” emphasizes the belief that the world is one family.

During this festival, people offer prayers, perform traditional rituals, and feast on delicious food with family and friends. It is also a time for families to come together, exchange gifts, and enjoy traditional music and dance. This is the longest and most auspicious festival in the Bikram Sambat and Nepal Sambat annual calendars. It is also considered the largest national/public holiday in Nepal, lasting for five days.

Nepali Americans across Maryland and the USA celebrated the bill’s passage, hoping that the recognition of Dashain Day would promote greater cultural understanding and appreciation in the state. Delegate Harry Bhandari, the first State legislator in the US of Nepali origin, expressed his joy, saying, “I am proud to have worked on this bill for the last five years, which recognizes the rich cultural heritage of Nepali-Americans and the significance of Dashain to our community. This is a great day for the Nepali diaspora of Maryland and the USA. It shows that our state is not only the wealthiest in the union but also the most generous one that treats diversity as a strength. I hope it will inspire other states to follow suit.”

Delegate Bhandari expressed his gratitude towards several Maryland lawmakers for prioritizing the bill recognizing Dashain Day, including Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, House Speaker Andrienne Jones, and committee chairs Joseline Pena-Melnyk, Health and Government Operations, and Senator Brian J. Feldman, chair of Education, Energy, and the Environment. He also acknowledged former US ambassador Senator Rosapepe for cross-filing the bill in 2022. Bhandari credited the successful passing of the bill to the collective efforts of House and Senate colleagues who supported it in a bipartisan way. The bill received overwhelming support, with the House voting 135-1, and the Senate unanimously passing it.

At a recent event hosted by Governor Moore at the Governor’s Mansion for Maryland Legislative Asian-American & Pacific-Islander Caucus, Delegate Bhandari, the chair of the Caucus, outlined his priorities alongside the Governor’s priorities. Bhandari supported both Governor Moore and Lt. Governor Miller in the election. Lt. Governor Aruna Miller serves as the first Asian American in Maryland’s history to hold the position of Lieutenant Governor.

Delegate Bhandari thanked the Governor for signing the bill and added, “As a proud cosponsor of the Governor’s priority bills, I am excited to collaborate with Governor Moore in serving my district and Maryland. I believe that continued cooperation between the legislative and executive branches is essential for the prosperity of our state, and I am committed to fostering Governor Moore’s prioritized economic mobility through his focus on work, wages, and wealth.” Governor Moore also signed two additional bills related to Maryland hospitals and pharmacists, authored by legislator Dr. Bhandari.

In pictures – Maryland Governor Wes Moore signs a bill recognizing the Nepali festival Dashain as a commemorative day, making history as the first state in the US to do so. Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Senate President, Speaker of the House, and state officials also participated in the bill signing ceremony at the Governor’s Reception Room in Annapolis, MD. Photo credit: Maryland GovPics on Flickr (Joe Andrucyk, Patrick Siebert).