Hindus are urging the closure of all public, charter, private and parochial schools in Alameda County, California on their most popular holiday, Diwali.

Alameda County is home to 18 public school unified school districts: Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Dublin, Emery, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore Valley Joint, Mountain House, New Haven, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Sunol Glen.

Prominent Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said it just wasn’t fair with Hindu students in Alameda County schools because they had to be at the school at their most popular party; while schools in Alameda County were closed around the commemoration of other religious days.

Zed, who is the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, said that since it was vital for Hindu families to celebrate Diwali day together at home with their children; closing schools on Diwali would ensure this and also show how respectful and accommodating these schools were to their faith.

Rajan Zed said Diwali holidays at schools in Alameda County would be a step in the right direction given the reported attendance of large numbers of Hindu students; as it was important to cater to the religious and spiritual needs of Hindu students.

If schools had declared holidays around other religious days, why not Diwali, Zed asked. The holidays of all major religions should be honored and no one should be penalized for practicing their religion, Zed added.

Rajan Zed suggested all schools in Alameda County seriously consider declaring Diwali an official holiday, recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education. Zed noted that the awareness of “other” religions thus created by holidays such as Diwali would make their students well-nourished, balanced and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.

Zed urged superintendents and board chairpersons of Alameda County’s 18 school districts to work toward adding Diwali as a holiday at their schools.

Zed also sought support from California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chairman Keith Carson,

Alameda County Office of Education Superintendent LK Monroe and Board Chair Aisha Knowles persuaded public, charter, private and parochial schools in Alameda County to declare Diwali as a public holiday.

Rajan 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 to dispel darkness and enlighten lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Diwali falls on October 24 this year.

Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion in the world with approximately 1.2 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are approximately three million Hindus in the United States.