Jersey City, along with seven other school districts in New Jersey's Asian-Indian strongholds, is being urged to declare Diwali a school holiday, though a school district spokeswoman says the move is unlikely.
Diwali, or India's "festival of lights," is the most important holiday of the year in that country, and is generally known as the Hindu New Year.
A five-day event, it is celebrated some time between October and December with feasts and fireworks.
Raju Patel, president of the Jersey City Asian Merchant Association, said he's in favor of Jersey City Public Schools declaring Diwali a holiday and giving students at least the first day of the celebration off.
Patel, 62, said when his three children were younger, he'd let them decide whether to skip class in honor of Diwali.
"I'd tell them very nicely, today is our new year, you don't have to go to school," said Patel, who is also an official with Govinda Temple on Newark Avenue.
According to 2010 Census figures. That's more than double the figure captured by the 2000 Census.
In New Jersey, only Edison has a larger Asian-Indian population.
District spokeswoman Paula Christen couldn't say how many of the district's roughly 27,000 students are of Asian-Indian descent. Christen said it's unlikely the district will declare Diwali a school holiday.
"There's not been any talk about it," Christen said.
In October, South Brunswick became only the second school district in the state, after Passaic, to declare Diwali a school holiday.
Despite Christen's insistence that there's no interest in giving students a day off for Diwali, Patel said he's hopeful the Asian-Indian community can change the district's mind.
"If the school can manage it, I'd really appreciate it," he said, adding that "eventually" it will happen.
I disagree , America is a judaeic christian country and and if these hindu people doesnt like it they are free to return to india and celebrate all their holidays . Whats next muslims , demanding their religious holidays as well?
[quote author=Vivekananda link=topic=64367.msg403474#msg403474 date=1331614068]
i want all of these days off
i had to work during holi/phagwah
[/quote] Requesting holidays for religions other than christians ones are fodder for the right wing crazies and these nuts are powerful
[quote author=Kwami link=topic=64367.msg403472#msg403472 date=1331612848]
I disagree , America is a judaeic christian country and and if these hindu people doesnt like it they are free to return to india and celebrate all their holidays . Whats next muslims , demanding their religious holidays as well?
[/quote]
oye listen, the people pay their taxes and should have a voice.
atleast they don't want to build a mandir @ the grave site of 911... they're asking for a simple day off to celebrate an auspicious day.
i mean why are you sending them back to india? no one is sending back christian fanatics to jesus's birth place to celebrate his birth... :lipsrsealed:
[quote author=Kwami link=topic=64367.msg403479#msg403479 date=1331614703]
Requesting holidays for religions other than christians ones are fodder for the right wing crazies and these nuts are powerful
[/quote]
so why stop them, they have to break the barrier, do some reseach about all the temples across the States...
no mentioned of whether just nj gets it off or the entire country... :lipsrsealed:
[quote author=The Chairman link=topic=64367.msg403560#msg403560 date=1331651022]
these people can take a day off. no need for the whole district to close down.
[/quote]
ryan is in for it, he's an american, hope all the americans in Nj thinks like him.... :tongue: :tongue: