Hindus are urging all public-private-charter-independent schools in California cities of Fremont, Sunnyvale, and Cupertino to declare official holiday on Diwali; the most popular of their festivals; starting 2021. 

They are thus urging Fremont Unified School District, Sunnyvale School District, Cupertino Union School District, Santa Clara Unified School District, Fremont Union High School District; besides private, charter, independent schools in these cities; to adopt Diwali as an official holiday on their 2021-2022 school year calendars and beyond. 

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement, pointed out that it would be a step in the positive direction in view of the presence of a substantial number of Hindu students in Fremont, Sunnyvale, and Cupertino; as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these pupils. Some school districts in various US states had reportedly already declared Diwali as a holiday. 

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that schools should make efforts to accommodate the religious requirements of Hindu students and show respect to their faith by not conducting regular business and scheduling classes on Diwali. We did not want our students to be put at an unnecessary disadvantage for missing examinations/papers, assignments, classwork, etc. by taking a day-off to observe Diwali. 

Rajan Zed suggested all schools in these cities to seriously look into declaring Diwali as an official holiday, thus recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education. Zed noted that awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would make Fremont-Sunnyvale-Cupertino students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.  

Zed further says 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. Diwali falls on Thursday, November four, in 2021.