We, the undersigned residents of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, petition the Board of Education to recognize Diwali as an official holiday for all schools in our town.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most popular festivals of Hinduism and is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists. The current South Asian population in the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills is estimated to be over 20% and is consistently rising. Under the present rules, students are forced to take the day off and miss school making them torn between school work and religious/cultural duties.

Recognizing the day as an official holiday means no South Asian student needs to compromise between their education and religion. Further, it also brings more awareness to the religion and will make students more aware and empathetic.

We sincerely hope the Board considers our request.