Dear Prince William County School Board,

We, the concerned residents of Prince William County, Virginia, kindly request your attention and support in reinstating Diwali, a significant religious and cultural celebration observed by millions worldwide, as an official holiday in the PWCS calendar. The festival lasts for five days (Nov 10-14 this year) and includes various rituals such as lighting oil lamps (diyas), exchanging gifts, feasting delicious food, decorating homes with colorful rangoli patterns, and bursting fireworks. This petition aims to recognize and celebrate the cultural diversity within our community by acknowledging one of the most important festivals for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and other communities around the world. We ask the school board to declare November 13th as the Diwali holiday this year.

In the previous school year(2021-22), PWCS introduced four new holidays, including Diwali on November 4. However, it is disheartening to learn that for the upcoming academic year (2023-24), the Diwali holiday has been eliminated by PWCS stating that since Diwali falls on the weekend, the holiday was excluded, and students observing the holiday on November 13th will be excused.

This decision raises concerns about the inconsistency and unequal treatment of religious holidays. Students who wish to observe this important religious day are faced with the difficult choice of missing out on valuable educational opportunities. Although PWCS states that students can have their absences excused on Monday, November 13th, those who choose to stay home to celebrate and observe the holiday will miss out on classwork, homework, tests, athletics, and other extracurricular activities. Students should not be forced to choose between attending school or honoring an important holiday.

As advocates for inclusivity and fairness, we strongly urge the school board to treat all major religious holidays with equal importance and respect. We wish to emphasize that other significant religious holidays, such as Eid-Al-Fitr, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashanah, are continued to be acknowledged and celebrated this year with school closures. Notably, two of these holidays fall on weekends, yet the school board has chosen to observe and celebrate them on weekdays, either Friday or Monday (see references below). This differential treatment is incongruent with the inclusive approach our school board strives to foster. By treating Diwali differently, we undermine the importance of this festival to our Hindu, Jain, and Sikh communities, while sending a message of inequality and exclusion to our students.

By reinstating Diwali as a recognized holiday in our school calendar:

1. Promoting Inclusivity: Recognizing Diwali would demonstrate that PWCS values diversity by embracing all cultures present within our community.

2. Academic Benefits: Acknowledging Diwali would allow students from Hindu, Sikh, and Jain backgrounds (and others) to fully participate in their religious observances without compromising their education.

3. Cultural Understanding: Celebrating diverse holidays fosters cultural understanding among students from different backgrounds while promoting tolerance and respect for each other's traditions.

4. Community Engagement: Adding Diwali to the school calendar would encourage community engagement through various educational activities related to this festival such as workshops on Indian art forms like Rangoli-making or traditional dance performances like Garba-Raas.

5. Nationwide Trend: Several school districts across America have already recognized Diwali as an official holiday due to its growing significance within multicultural societies.

Accordingly:

1. We propose that November 13th be designated as a day off for students and staff to celebrate Diwali.

2. We suggest that PWCS provide educational resources and materials to enhance students' understanding of Diwali, its cultural significance, and the importance of diversity.

By granting this request, Prince William County Schools will take a significant step towards fostering an inclusive environment that respects and celebrates the diverse cultures within our community. We believe that recognizing Diwali as an official holiday will contribute positively to the overall well-being and academic success of our students.

We kindly request your support in adding Diwali as a recognized holiday on the PWCS calendar. Together, let's embrace diversity and create an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and respected.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Deepak Joshi, Sunita Joshi, Abhay Bagul, Meenu Bagul, Dr. Vipul Parikh, Arun Sampath, Ameeta Kapoor, Abhishek Misra, Anshul Misra, Amit Sambher, Preeti Sambher 

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References:

1. When is eid al-fitr 2024?. Zakat Foundation of America. (n.d.). https://www.zakat.org/when-is-eid-al-fitr-2024

2. When is Rosh Hashanah in 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027?. Chabad.org. (n.d.). https://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/671869/jewish/When-Is-Rosh-Hashanah-in-2023-2024-2025-2026-and-2027.htm

3. Yom Kippur 2023 - The Day of Atonement - Chabad.org. (n.d.). https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4687/jewish/Yom-Kippur.htm

4. 2023 diwali puja calendar, Deepavali puja calendar. Drikpanchang. LLP, A. M. A. (n.d.). https://www.drikpanchang.com/diwali/diwali-puja-calendar.html

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