Disheartened by the repeated ignoring of the wishes of the area Hindu community, Hindus have started a petition at change.org seeking Diwali holiday in Cary (North Carolina) headquartered Wake County Public School System schools, which includes the city of Raleigh.

By today, 244 people have signed this petition started by “Native Hindoo”, which says: This petition is on behalf of Hindu American Parents whose children have been attending Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) schools in North Carolina, for the last 10-plus years and patiently waiting for Diwali to be declared as a public holiday by WCPSS.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that it was simply not fair with Hindu pupils in WCPSS schools as they had to be at school on their most popular festival Diwali, while WCPSS schools were closed during festivities of other religions.

Zed, who is the President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stated that since it was vital for Hindu families to celebrate Diwali day together at home with their children; closing schools on Diwali would ensure that and would also display how respectful and accommodating WCPSS was to their faith.

Rajan Zed indicated that holiday on Diwali in WCPSS schools would be a step in the positive direction in view of the reported presence of a substantial number of Hindu students; as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of Hindu pupils.

If WCPSS had declared holidays around other religious days, why not Diwali, Zed asked. Holidays of all major religions should be honored and no one should be penalized for practicing their religion, Zed added.

Rajan Zed suggested WCPSS to seriously and urgently 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 their students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.

Zed urged WCPSS Superintendent Cathy Quiroz Moore and Board Chair Lindsay Mahaffey to work towards adding Diwali as an official holiday in their schools. Zed also sought the support of North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt, Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Shinica Thomas and Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin in persuading WCPSS to declare Diwali as holiday.

Rajan 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.

WCPSS has reportedly around 158,412 students in 198 schools with an operating budget of $1.94 billion. Its tagline is "From here, anything is possible".

Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.2 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in the USA.

Image provided by the author.