Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement today, said that it was not fair with Delaware Hindu community as they had to be at work on their most popular festival while there were public holidays on other religious days.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, suggested that Delaware Government needed to revisit its public holiday policies as the Delaware demographics had changed making it a multicultural society and Hindu populations were continuing to grow. He urged Delaware Governor John Carney to seriously examine this issue of fairness.
In the State of Delaware, “legal holidays” during 2020 included Good Friday, Christmas Day, etc.
Rajan Zed stated that it was important for Hindu families to celebrate Diwali day together at home/temple. Public holiday on Diwali would ensure that and it would be “a step in the positive direction”.
Zed noted that awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would strengthen cohesion and unity in the overall Delaware citizenry and make them well-nurtured and enlightened citizens.
As an interfaith gesture; Rajan Zed urged Roman Catholic Bishop of Wilmington Diocese W. Francis Malooly, Philadelphia Area Bishop of United Methodist Church Peggy A. Johnson, Delaware Episcopal Bishop Kevin S. Brown, and leaders of other religions/denominations active in Delaware to come out in the support of Hindu brothers and sisters for Diwali holiday.
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 at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Diwali falls on Monday, October 24, in 2022.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.2 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
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