A Hindu group is calling on the WW-P school district to include Diwali as an official school holiday on its calendar.
In a statement, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, based in Nevada, pointed to the South Brunswick school district’s calendar for the 2011-’12 school year, which includes a holiday on Wednesday, October 26, for Diwali/Deepavali.
“Awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays would make the district pupils well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow,” Zed said. “It would make the district look good also besides bringing cohesion and unity in the community.”
About 51 percent of the WW-P district’s students are of Asian descent, and “there is considerable presence of students of India background,” said Zed.
WW-P school board President Hemant Marathe said the district lists Diwali on the calendar, but there are no plans to make any changes to the official school holidays as of right now. “We try to list as many festivals as are recognized by the state,” he said.
