To whom it may concern,

I am working with determination to add my religious holiday, Diwali, to the New York City school calendars as well as those in Long Island. Diwali is the Hindu New Year; it is the Festival of Lights and it symbolizes good and pure over evil and negative. It is considered the darkest night of the entire year due to the new moon phase, thus we light diyas (or candles) to brighten our homes to welcome God.

Every other culture has their own observed holiday, and they are well-known to the nation. Religious holidays include Eid, Rosh Hashanah, and Christmas, and additionally, the African Americans have National Black Heritage Month. With all these celebrations of all these cultures, Hindus do not have an observed holiday on the school calendars.

As the population of Hindus in America steadily increases, I believe it is time to make a change that will benefit all Hindus. Millions of Hindus are populated in the Americas alone, and nearly 700,000 Hindus reside in New York. Therefore, it is only fair and equally right that Hindus are treated with respect and may have their New Year’s Day off from all work and school.