Hindus to push for Diwali holiday as Marylandâ€™s Montgomery Schools launches calendar survey

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS); headquartered in Rockville, Maryland; is launching a survey to develop 2019-2020 school year academic calendar, and Although the participation in survey is voluntary, yet distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed is urging all the current Hindu MCPS students and their parents and staff members to actively participate in providing the survey feedback (and persuade friends/sympathizers also to do the same), mentioning that it is â€œvery importantâ€ for them that the school is closed on Diwali, most popular of Hindu festivals.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada today, also urged all the current Hindu MCPS students and their parents and staff members to list other Hindu festivals also under the question: â€œAre there any other days that you (or your family) observeâ€¦â€

Rajan Zed indicated that Diwali holiday in MCPS would be a step in the positive direction in view of presence of a substantial number of Hindu students in the district; as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these pupils. Moreover, awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would make all MCPS students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.

Diwali fell on October 19 in 2017 and six New York school districts declared holiday for students on October 19, which included: East Meadow School District, East Williston Union Free School District, Half Hollow Hills Central School District, Herricks Union Free School District, Hicksville Union Free School District and Syosset Central School District. Mineola Union Free School District announced that no home work or examinations would be given on Diwali, reports suggest.

For 2017 in New Jersey; Glen Rock Public Schools announced closure of schools and offices on Diwali; in West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, schools were closed on October 19; and in Piscataway Township Schools, there was â€œNo School for Studentsâ€ on Diwali. And in the recent past, Millburn Township Public Schools announced Diwali day off for students for the next three years, reports add.

In 2017 Unionville-Chadds Ford School District headquartered in Kennett Square in Pennsylvania approved closure of schools on Diwali; while Harvard Public Schools in Massachusetts declared October 19 as â€œearly release dayâ€. Board of Directors of Council Rock School District, headquartered in Newtown (Pennsylvania), in their meeting on February 15, unanimously approved 2018-2019 calendar which includes the addition of Diwali as an official school holiday, reports note.

Zed further said that it was important for Hindu families to celebrate Diwali day together at home with their children and they expected that MCPS would display how respectful and accommodating it was to their faith by closing schools on Diwali.

Rajan Zed points out 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.

Christmas Eve through January 1, Friday before Easter and Monday after Easter are state-mandated school closures. The survey has been developed in consultation with Hanover Research, a market research firm.

Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

About 161,936 students from 157 countries speaking 150 languages are reportedly enrolled in 205 schools of award-winning MCPS, 14th largest school district in USA spread in 497 square miles whose operating budged in FY 2018 was $2.52 billion. Michael A. Durso is its Board of Education President, while Dr. Jack R. Smith is the Superintendent.

Diwali is included in possible holidays listed.