New Delhi, September 9, 2020: Hindus want schools in Cherry Hill Public Schools (CHPS) in New Jersey to stay closed on Diwali; the most popular of their festivals; starting 2021.
They are thus urging Lisa Saidel and Dr. Joseph Meloche, Board President and Superintendent respectively of CHPS headquartered in Cherry Hill, to adopt Diwali as an official holiday on their 2021-2022 school year calendar and beyond.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, pointed out that it would be a step in the positive direction in view of presence of a substantial number of Hindu students in CHPS; as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these pupils. Some school districts in New Jersey and various other US states had reportedly declared Diwali as a holiday in the past.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that schools should make efforts to accommodate the religious requirements of Hindu students and show respect to their faith by not conducting regular business and scheduling classes on Diwali. We did not want our students to be put at an unnecessary disadvantage for missing tests/examinations/papers, assignments, class work, etc.; by taking a day-off to observe Diwali.
Rajan Zed suggested CHPS to seriously look into declaring Diwali as an official holiday, thus recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education. Zed noted that awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would make CHPS students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.
Zed further says that Hinduism is rich in festivals and religious festivals are very dear and sacred to Hindus. Diwali, the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and some 3 million Hindus are American citizens.
