Fort Bend County will permit the sale of fireworks for the Diwali holiday for the first time this year for the first time in the county’s history.
The county will allow the sale of fireworks from Oct. 25 until Nov. 1, the final day of the celebration.
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Texas Legislature passed a bill to make the Diwali holiday eligible for firework sales with approval from commissioners court. On Tuesday, the commissioners court in the voted unanimously to approve firework sales for the celebration.
Diwali, which is often referred to as the “Festival of Lights,” is celebrated by over 1 billion people internationally. It is recognized in several prominent religions, including Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism.
Fort Bend County is among the fastest growing and most diverse counties in the United States. When the decision was announced, Pct. 4 Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy celebrated the move as a symbol of the county’s cultural growth.
“Fort Bend County is home to tens of thousands of Asian Americans who celebrate Diwali, and we are so proud that we are able to enable residents to participate with a bang,” Commissioner McCoy said in a press release. “Since the county is enforcing a burn ban, it was important that we work with partners like the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal to ensure everyone enjoys the fun responsibly.”