Why Aren't More North Jersey Schools Off For Diwali Monday? Activist Asks

NORTH JERSEY — 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 suggested that other districts in certain areas consider it.

"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."

"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 these schools were to their faith," he said.

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.

But it's not just about getting the day off.

Getting a holiday off also helps raise awareness, Zed noted.

"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.

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

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

Some Essex County Districts Are Off

Many schools in North Jersey were closed recently for the first full day of Rosh Hashana — the Jewish New Year — in September, as well as the highly religious holiday of Yom Kippur on Oct. 5.

In Essex County, districts including Livingston and Millburn are off for Diwali this year.

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, Zed and his group are specifically pushing for the Diwali holiday in schools in Somerset County, Middlesex County, and Trenton.