Calling for a day off

A Camden County student has taken the bold step of advocating by petition for the recognition of Diwali as a school holiday in local districts.

Aarav Jain’s petition, which he started on change.org, calls for county schools to honor Diwali, the festival of lights, with an official day off. While some schools, like Voorhees Middle and Osage Elementary, have adopted the change, others, including Eastern Regional High School, have yet to follow suit.

The petition underscores a broader point: If schools close for holidays associated with other major religions, why not extend the same respect to Diwali?

The festival, deeply rooted in Hindu tradition, is celebrated with family gatherings, worship at home shrines, temple visits, feasts, gift exchanges, fireworks and the lighting of diyas, clay lamps that symbolize the triumph of light over darkness.

“Diwali has always been close to my heart,” said Jain. “As a Hindu, it’s a time to celebrate light over darkness, good over evil. It’s not just another holiday; it’s a day for family and spiritual connection. I found it odd that while schools take off for other religious holidays, Diwali is often overlooked.

“It’s time we rethink that.”

Jain’s petition has gained significant traction, with parents, students and community members voicing their support. The reason behind the push is clear: establishing Diwali as an official school holiday would not only allow Hindu families to celebrate together, but also show that schools respect and accommodate their students’ diverse faiths.

Diwali is celebrated based on the Hindu lunar calendar, so its dates vary each year. It typically spans five days, with the main day of celebration often referred to as Diwali or Deepavali. Dawali usually falls on the new moon in the Hindu month of Kartika.

Dr. Amrita Desai, an Indian Cultural Center Special Education Liaison to the Philadelphia school district, believes that Jain’s petition “could have a profound impact on promoting cultural awareness and inclusivity within the community.”

“Diwali is a significant religious and cultural holiday in South Asia,” she explained, “and granting a day off for its observance would allow families to celebrate this important festival together.”

Desai pointed out that while South Asian children are familiar with holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, as well as recently recognized school holidays for Eid and Lunar New Year, “the exclusion of Diwali feels like a significant oversight.”

“Diwali holds the same importance for Hindus as Christmas does for Christians, Eid for Muslims and Rosh Hashanah for Jews,” she pointed out.

Still, Jain’s petition has faced challenges, particularly from those who argue that such a holiday must be proportionate to the religious demographics of the school.

“At Eastern, some have said there are more students from other religious backgrounds than Hindus, and therefore, a holiday for Diwali isn’t necessary,” he noted. “But Diwali isn’t just for Hindus. It’s celebrated by Sikhs, Jains (an ancient Indian religion) and some Buddhists as well.

“Holidays should bring people together, not divide them.”

Jain also maintained that the issue is not just about taking a day off from school, but about honoring the diverse cultural fabric of Camden County and recognizing that inclusivity in education means respecting all students’ religious and cultural practices.

As he put it, “Imagine a significant number of students missing school on Diwali because they are celebrating with their families. Should they have to choose between their religion and education?”

Jain praised administrators at Voorhees Middle and Osage Elementary for observing the day off.

“I commend the leaders of these schools for recognizing the importance of this day,” he remarked. “The impact is there, and I hope Eastern catches on soon.”

At least one student there agrees.

“As someone who celebrates Diwali, having a day off will allow me to fully immerse in the traditions, family time, and practices of the festival,” said Mehr Sodhi. “It also would offer me the opportunity to introduce the festival to people who don’t know about Diwali, thus broadening cultural recognition.

“It would acknowledge the importance of this time, giving me and others the chance to celebrate without the pressures of school.”

For Jain, the journey is far from over and his petition continues to circulate. He remains hopeful that the idea of a Diwali day off will continue to gain momentum.

“Holidays are for us to celebrate,” he argued. “I celebrate Christmas, and I’m not asking others to celebrate Diwali, but I am asking for respect for our traditions. Let’s light up Voorhees this year, and who knows, maybe one day Diwali will be a national holiday.”

To read Jain’s petition, visit the link: https://chng.it/DBF9YvZTz6