ASSEMBLY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION No. 46

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 1, 2024

      The Assembly State and Local Government Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Joint Resolution Bill No. 46.

      As amended, this joint resolution designates October of each year as “Hindu Heritage Month” in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the many Hindu residents of this State and their rich and noteworthy history and cultural contributions to this State.

      Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world, dating back to a time between 3000-8000 BCE.  Sacred texts have been passed on through generations for thousands of years, creating a strong following of 1.1 billion Hindus in the 21st century.  Hindus believe in a variety of deities, each representing different concepts and values within Hinduism.  Different sects of Hindus emphasize particular deities and practices over others, depending on their beliefs.  Various Hindu gods and goddesses can be traced to origin points spanning several thousand years, making the traditions surrounding Hinduism and the Hindu deities rich and storied.  Some deities have holidays celebrated in their honor, such as Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which celebrates Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune.  Another well-known Hindu holiday is Holi, the Festival of Colors.  It is a holiday celebrating the coming of spring, famous for colorful paste and water thrown on those celebrating.

      Hindus have made enormous contributions to cultural development throughout history across the globe.  Significant achievements in math, science, and medicine used in the modern world can be traced to Hindus.  New Jersey is fortunate to be the State with the highest percentage of Hindu residents in the United States. 

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments:

· change “Hindu Heritage Month” from January to October;

· make changes to certain clauses related to the Hindu population of the world and State, and remove the reference to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, located in Robbinsville, New Jersey; and

· add “whereas” clauses that: (1) Hinduism has influenced many different aspects of American culture and thought, including philosophy, yoga, meditation, music, food, art, dance, and medicine; and (2) state that Hindus are active participants in the New Jersey economy and are practitioners in all areas of the workforce, such as science, business, politics, technology, and academics.