TRENTON — Hindu community leaders are pushing for all New Jersey schools to close for Diwali, following announcements by 29 school districts that they will observe the festival as a student holiday during the 2025–26 school year.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed praised the move, saying it reflects a growing recognition of the religious and cultural significance of Diwali among New Jersey’s diverse student population.
“It is important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of Hindu pupils,” Zed said in a statement from Nevada. He is president of the Universal Society of Hinduism.
Among the school districts adding Diwali to the calendar are Bridgewater-Raritan, Edison, Cherry Hill, Jersey City, and West Windsor-Plainsboro. Colts Neck and Englewood Cliffs will also hold short sessions in recognition of the festival.
Zed is urging the New Jersey Department of Education and state officials, including Governor Phil Murphy and Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer, to officially recognize Diwali as a state holiday, as Pennsylvania and Connecticut have done.
He added that “if schools had declared other religious holidays, why not Diwali,” and called for equal treatment of all major religions in school calendars.
The New Jersey Department of Education currently lists 21 Hindu holidays, including Diwali, for which students may be excused.
Zed emphasized that Diwali, which falls on October 20 this year, is a sacred occasion that families prefer to celebrate together. He also argued that school closures on Diwali would help foster religious awareness and cultural understanding among students.
“There are about 3.2 million Hindus in the USA,” Zed said, highlighting the growing visibility of the faith and its festivals nationwide.