Freda R. Savana
Paree Pasi would like to see her Hindu religion’s holiday Diwali recognized by the Central Bucks School District, where she’s a sophomore.
When she initially approached the school board with her request a couple of months ago at a committee meeting, she said she was met with a mixture of skepticism and encouragement.
As more people learned of Paree’s suggestion, dozens of supporters attended a full school board meeting on April 27, joining the 16-year-old in asking the board to make Diwali a school holiday.
In a letter from The Greater Delaware Valley Interfaith Community, members called on the CBSD board to revise the school calendar to include Diwali.
“Diwali is a major holiday celebrated by a growing population in Central Bucks. This change would recognize those members of our community who celebrate, by respecting their faith and traditions,” the statement said.
“As the Jewish High Holy Days were added to the list of recognized holidays in 1988, the same should be true for Diwali so that students of both religions can celebrate with their families without missing classroom time,” the group wrote in its letter.
A second letter addressed to the board came from several area faith leaders who also called on the school directors to recognize the holiday that is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists.
“Designating Diwali as a holiday would serve to honor those particular faiths, and our students and their families who celebrate this festival, the rabbis, imams and ministers wrote. “It would be an affirmation of the diversity of religious traditions among our neighbors within the CBSD and our society as a whole.”
Efforts to reach the school district for comment were unsuccessful.
Paree said, while the district’s “cultural days,” which educate students about various world cultures, are “good,” they aren’t a substitute for affirming Diwali as an official school holiday.
“America’s not what it was two decades ago, said Paree. “It’s not fair to keep a calendar that doesn’t represent students.”
Council Rock and Pennsbury school districts recognize Diwali as a school holiday, as does Bensalem, which added it this year.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated between mid-October and mid-November.
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