Joining National Donut Day; Cook for Your Cat, and Barber Recognition Days

Our legislature and governor have had a busy year, what with cooking the books to hide budget deficits, assaulting home rule, and approving another round of utility rate hikes, but they still found time to address the most consequential issues such as adding new holidays to the state calendar. How much do we pay these guys, anyway?

Connecticut becomes second US state to recognize Hindu holiday Diwali

Connecticut now recognizes Diwali as a state holiday, becoming the second U.S. state to recognize the Hindu holiday under state statute.

Gov. Ned Lamont signed a bill to observe Diwali  –  marking the Hindu Festival of Lights – into law this month.

Some Connecticut towns and school districts already celebrate and observe Diwali, although it has not been cemented into state statute until now. The legislation, which passed unanimously in both the House and Senate, says that suitable exercises may be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the governor designates for the observance of the day.

While many states have issued resolutions and proclamations acknowledging Diwali, including the holiday into law will make it easier for Connecticut’s Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains who observe Diwali to receive religious accommodations in the workplace and schools so that they may celebrate Diwali with their families and local communities," according to a June news release by the nonprofit Hindu American Foundation. The holiday is observed by more than 30,000 Hindus in Connecticut, according to the release.

Here’s a partial list of the new holidays that our Hartford Yahoos created this year; understand that each of these items required careful drafting by state employees, conferences, and, no doubt, lengthy discussion in the after-hours bars and saloons surrounding the Capitol.

(118) February 8th: Scouting America Day,

(119) February 14th: Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day

(120) (all of)April: Connecticut Native Plant Month

(124) First Wednesday in May Local Journalism Appreciation Day

(125) May 5th: Red Dress Day, to commemorate missing and murdered indigenous women and children

(127) May 19th Face Equity Week

(128) June 1st: Barber Recognition Day

June 27th (130) Connecticut Microbiome Day

(131) July Uterine Fibroid Awareness Month

(136) November Epilepsy Awareness Month

(137) “The Month of Kartik”: The Governor shall proclaim the fifteenth day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar of each year as Diwali, to celebrate this festival of lights. Suitable exercises may be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.

Governor's Action: Approved June 10, 2025