To,

• David S. Joy, Chairman, South Windsor Board of Education
• Craig Zimmerman, Secretary, South Windsor Board of Education
• Kate Carter, Superintendent of Schools, South Windsor School District

Subject: Declaring Diwali has a school holiday

Dear Sirs/Madam,

As you may be aware, Diwali is one of the most commonly celebrated festivals among the Indians. This festival also known as Deepavali, (the "festival of lights") is an ancient Indian festival celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) every year. Diwali is the biggest and the brightest festival in India. The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness.

The main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Indian Lunisolar month Kartika. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Diwali for Indians has always been something empowering: a time to reflect on all of the positives within our lives -- our loving friends and family, our good health, and prosperity -- and realize what it is truly important. As Diwali approaches, never lose faith in the fact that the narrative will continue to play itself out -- that the good and virtuous shall always triumph over the evil and spiteful. That within each ourselves, our best, virtuous self will defeat the impulses of ego and tyranny. And for each Diwali that passes by, that in the loud noises and flashy lights, that we never forget why we celebrate this festival in the first place.

We believe that given the number of Indian students in the school district, it will be a great gesture to allow them to have the most important festival declared as an official school holiday. A day where the family can come together and celebrate the victory of good over evil in continuation with our tradition.

Once again, by way of this petition, we the undersigned would put forward our formal request to consider Diwali as an official school holiday for the district.

Thanking you,