Mayor de Blasio said Monday that he’d move forward with closing schools for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, two Muslim holy days, and for Lunar New Year. But he was hesitant regarding Hindu festival Diwali.
New York City is moving to close school for two Muslim holidays and the Lunar New Year — but Mayor de Blasio isn’t so sure about the Hindu festival Diwali.
Appearing on WNYC’s “Brian Lehrer Show” on Monday, the mayor said he hadn’t taken a position on whether Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated in India and other South Asian countries, should be a day off from school.
But he said he’d move forward with closing schools for Lunar New Year and for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Muslim holy days.
“It is complicated in terms of logistics and school calendar and budget. But it’s something I want to get done in a reasonable time frame,” he said.
A spokesman for the Indian community appealed to the mayor to recognize the Hindu holiday.
Rob Bennett for the Office of Mayor Bill de Blasio
Mayor de Blasio, in blue, will add more holidays to the New York City public school calendar — but not all the days everyone was seeking.
Ethnic communities have pushed for all four holidays to be recognized. Former Mayor Bloomberg opposed the change, saying kids should not miss more school.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/nyc-public-school-kids-new-holidays-article-1.1601237#ixzz2sNU0go00
1 comment:
Has the world gone crazy? Yet the primary festival of Divali for Hindus Globally is sidelined? If Xmas the main and primary festival was sidelined would Christians be okay with it? Is this not a blatant disregard of basic human rights Of followers Of Hinduism everywhere ? Whilst others get 2 days for 2 festivals, Hindus cant secure one for their major festival - Divali festival of lights which is equivalent to Xmas. Are followers of Hinduism not tax payers, citizens or not worthy of basic human rights?
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