Why Aren't All Hudson County Schools Off For Diwali On Monday? Activist Asks Question

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — A Hindu activist is asking why some North Jersey schools are closed for Diwali on Monday while others are not, suggesting that other districts consider the holiday.

In New York City, for the first time this year, Assembly member Jenifer Rajkumar and New York City Mayor Eric Adams have officially designated the eastern religious festival of light as a school holiday.

Rajan Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, praised the Jersey City Public Schools for being closed this Monday, Oct. 24 for one day of Diwali, but asked other districts to consider it.

"Hindus are asking for a Diwali holiday in all the 13 public school districts of Hudson County, while schools in only one of these districts are closing on Oct. 24, the day of their most popular festival Diwali in 2022," said Zed.

"Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.2 billion adherents," he noted. "There are about three million Hindus in the USA."

(Want to understand more about Diwali? Hoboken mom and children's book author Raakhee Mirchandani talks about how her family celebrates in Parents Magazine.)

Zed said, "Schools are closed only in Jersey City Public Schools on Diwali day in 2022, while schools are open in Bayonne, East Newark, Guttenberg, Harrison, Hoboken, Hudson County Schools of Technology, Kearny, North Bergen, Secaucus, Union City, Weehawken, West New York school districts in Hudson County."

Typically in New Jersey, school districts allow a certain number of excused and inexcused absences during the mandated 180 days of school each year. Religious holidays are often excused absences.

It's not just about being excused, Zed said. Getting a holiday off also helps raise awareness.

"Awareness about ‘other’ religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would make their students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow," he said.

As far as new holidays, many New Jersey districts began closing for Juneteenth for the first time in June of 2021.

Zed thanked Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez and Board President Gerald Lyons of the Jersey City Public Schools "for understanding the concerns of Hindu community."

What Is Diwali?

Zed noted, "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."

In New Jersey, besides Hudson County; Zed and his group are specifically pushing for Diwali holiday in schools in Somerset County, Middlesex County, and the Trenton Public Schools.