Respected Marlboro Township Public School Board Members and Superintendent,

We’re writing to you to respectfully request that Diwali, an important holiday for Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs, be designated an official holiday for Marlboro Township Public School students. Based on the Hindu lunar calendar, Diwali is on Oct 24th (for 2022) and on Nov 12th (for 2023).

Asian students account for almost 25% of total students in Marlboro School District (Source US News) -- South Asian, Indian, and Hindu making up a large majority (although the exact number of Hindus is not made available by any US Census, as religion is not a demographic criterion for the process).  When Diwali comes around each year, often times on a weekday, too many students are faced with a difficult decision -- observe this religious holiday and risk missing important school work and activities, or forego their observance altogether in order not to miss the school work.   

Even if a child wishes to observe the holiday, their families, known to emphasize education as a top priority, hesitate. At best, too many families squeeze in a rushed celebration -- fit in between the end of after-school activities, homework, studying, and bedtime.

We feel that if it is a holiday in the school system, Indian families will celebrate the festival in the locality which will also promote local businesses in our town.  
Aside from the well-being of Marlboro Township students and families, there are several other factors that we believe Board Members and the Superintendent should consider:

1. A number of school districts across the US have adopted Diwali (with Eid and Chinese New Year) as an official school holiday (as "professional development" or "weather" day).  The number of students who would benefit from Diwali being an official school holiday in Marlboro Township is actually significantly greater than in many of the districts listed below.  

New York:
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

New Jersey:
Glen Rock School District, West Windsor-Plainsboro School District, Piscataway School District, Passaic City School District, and South Brunswick School District, Ridgewood School District

Others:
Unionville-Chadds Ford School District (PA), Harvard Public Schools (MA), and Howard County District (MD)

2. In 2016, Diwali was commemorated for the first time at the United Nations in NYC. The White House has been celebrating Diwali for nearly a decade -- a tradition that was started by President George W. Bush and continued by President Obama and President Trump.

3. The United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a first-ever Diwali postage stamp on October 5, 2016. It’s since become one of the best-selling stamps in the history of USPS. Canada issued another stamp on Sept 30, 2017.

4. Diwali is celebrated around the world, particularly in countries with significant populations of four cultures: Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. These include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean nations. Diwali is also celebrated in the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States.

Diwali is a well-known and widely celebrated holiday.  We respectfully request that the Marlboro School Board take the lead in embracing and recognizing the culture of a large number of its students. We strongly believe that such a designation by Marlboro Township will go a long way in demonstrating the commitment of our educators to the well-being of our diverse students and families.  
We thank you in advance for your due consideration.

Sincerely,
Students and Parents of Marlboro Township Public Schools

Organizations Supporting the Petition:
Marlboro Indian American Association (MIAA)