Let's Make A Diya-fference!
Diwali is the festival of lights and it is celebrated by over a billion people every year. The festival marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Although the majority of those who celebrate Diwali are Hindus — Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains observe the holiday, as well. During this time, Hindus must sustain a fast and light Diyas (oil lamps) throughout their homes. This is meant to bring good luck, blessings, and prosperity into one’s household. Diwali lands on the darkest night of the lunar cycle every year, either in October or November. Preparation for Diwali usually requires a lot of time and work, like cleaning, cooking, and shopping. Unlike Diwali, the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) recognizes many cultural holidays by giving all students the day off to observe and celebrate. This includes holidays such as Eid al Fitr, Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Yom Kippur, Easter, and Christmas. There is not a single day dedicated to students, teachers, or staff who are Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, or Jains and others who observe Diwali by the New York City Department of Education. The best way to resolve this inequity of the absence of Hindu holidays in New York City and New York State is to include Diwali on the NYCDOE calendar.
New York City is known for its incredible diversity, its array of cultures, and the vast opportunities that it offers to all people. Equality should be able to thrive throughout NYC to allow people from different backgrounds to feel accepted. According to the Asian American Federation, “[b]y borough, 65 percent of Indian New Yorkers lived in Queens, 12 percent in Manhattan, 12 percent in Brooklyn, 6.5 percent in the Bronx, and 5 percent in Staten Island.” These statistics support the idea that populations of students and teachers who attend or work in a public school in these areas are affected, as they contribute to NYC’s population. According to the Pew Research Center, “half of Indian Americans (51%) identify as Hindu, while 5 percent identify as Sikh and 2 percent as Jain. Most of the rest are Christians (18%), Muslims (10%), or people unaffiliated with any religion (10%).” This shows that the majority of Hindus celebrate Diwali. It also proves that providing a day off for Diwali would not only impact Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, but also the 18 percent of Christians, 10 percent of Muslims, and 10 percent of those who are unaffiliated with religion who also observe the holiday. The Pew Research Center has also estimated that 250,000 individuals celebrate Diwali in New York City. According to the latest census, “Asian Indians constitute 2.4% of the city’s population and celebrate Diwali. This percentage does not include the estimated 100,000 Hindus of Indo-Caribbean heritage or countless Hindus of either mixed or other racial and ethnic ancestries who also consider Diwali amongst their holiest of holidays.
This piece of evidence acknowledges that although 2.4 percent of the city’s population celebrates Diwali, there is a large number of students and teachers who are not included in this statistic. Despite the immense populations of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists that are affected by this issue, the city has not reached an agreement on signing a bill that corrects it.
Seniors at Forest Hills High School conducted a survey of over 675 high school students, community members, and city officials, including the mayor. Their data was showcased during a hearing at City Hall on February 26, of last year. Data showcased that 92 percent of those who participated in the survey, believe that the NYCDOE should add Diwali to the public school calendar. Hindu Statesman, Rajan Zed, 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, claiming that “[w]e did not want our students to be put at an unnecessary disadvantage for missing tests/examinations/papers, assignments, classwork, etc., by taking a day-off to observe.” Putting Diwali on the NYCDOE calendar is essential, as a large population of students, teachers, and staff are affected by this issue.
This should not have to be a choice, considering how many students are currently permitted time off to celebrate their own holidays. Missing school can affect students' grades, as they may end up falling behind in their assignments. Many parents have said that they prefer for their child to stay home when celebrating Diwali. According to the survey conducted done by high school students, a child's lack of participation in a religious holiday can cause them to lose interest in their religion and forget about their culture and traditions.
Though this is an issue that deserves attention, there are others who believe that it is not necessary for students to have a day off to observe Diwali. Rudolf Ilana, Senior Communications Associate for the Chancellor’s office responded to the controversy by stating, The DOE has policies excusing students for religious observances omitted from the school calendar. Withal students who observe religious holidays recognized by the New York State Commissioner of Education or other holy days not recognized on the calendar, including Diwali may be excused upon a written request by a parent or legal guardian prior to the date of observance. Teachers must mark the student absent and enter reason code ‘05’ (Religious/Cultural Observance) into the attendance system in accordance with Chancellor’s Regulation A-210.” However, this argument does not address the issue. Even if students manage to get written permission, they will still miss school and the information that was taught.
In 2016, when NYC Mayor, Bill de Blasio was confronted with this issue, he had no plans of implementing Diwali into the public school calendar and stressed that the state required a specific amount of mandated days for NYCDOE schools. According to an article by NBC News, Chris Fuchs said, “De Blasio’s decision to add Asian Lunar New Year to the school calendar came amid mounting pressure from local, state and federally elected officials, as well as community leaders, who were upset that his administration made two Muslim holy days — Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr — official holidays, but not Asian Lunar New Year.”
It was revealed that many community leaders and the Korean American Parents Association of Greater New York’s (KAPANY) Co-President, Christine Colligan fought hard for the city to make Lunar New Year an additional holiday in the NYCDOE public calendar. Diwali was also considered as an addition to the NYCDOE public calendar, but the proposal was denied. POLITICO New York Reporter, Madina Toure, had disclosed that Mayor De Blasio said, “he only made campaign promises to create the Lunar New Year and Muslim holidays and would not recognize any more for city schools…” According to Nick Fish, the President of American Atheists, “Picking and choosing with an artificial limit is discriminatory and unequal.” New York State education officials have stated that there is nothing currently preventing this legislation, as long as children attend the required 180 days in the regular academic calendar. Choosing one holiday over another is both inappropriate and unacceptable.
There has been overwhelming support for this issue by a number of city council members. For example, Council Member Barry Grodenchik agrees that Diwali should be added, stating that, "The 300,000 New Yorkers who celebrate Diwali should be able to celebrate it with their entire families without being forced to forgo sending their children to school.” Council Member Costa Constantinides is another city official who fully supports the effort, mainly because it ensures that all children who celebrate the holiday will be recognized and receive equal treatment under the law. Assembly Member David I. Weprin insisted on becoming “a co-prime sponsor of the legislation to recognize Diwali as a public-school holiday in the assembly.” He argued that “no students will have to choose between celebrating with their family or their school obligations.”
Diwali should be added to the NYCDOE public school calendar because it would encourage a diverse environment filled with tolerance, acceptance, and new opportunities. Quality education is the foundation of fulfilling a child’s needs in order to prepare them to face the outside world. It is essential that all students have the right to celebrate their holiday with their families. Students and teachers who participate in Diwali are left at a disadvantage because they are not experiencing the full inclusion that NYC has to offer. New York State is failing to recognize them as equals by not entitling them to religious time off.
By Devrani Brahmanand
Illustrations were done in collaboration with the New Media Artspace at Baruch College. The New Media Artspace is a teaching exhibition space in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Baruch College, CUNY. Housed in the Newman Library, the New Media Artspace showcases curated experimental media and interdisciplinary artworks by international artists, students, alumni, and faculty. Special thanks to docent Milli Encarnacion for creating artwork for this piece.
Check the New Media Artspace out at http://www.newmediartspace.info/