Diwali, marking the triumph of good over evil, is the most important and popular
religious festival of Hindus. During this festival, Hindus decorate their homes
and temples with special lights called “Dia”. Because the date is based on the Hindu
calendar, it is subject to change every year. This year, the festival celebrated
by nearly a billion people falls on the 27th of October.
Issuance of
a Diwali Stamp
The US Postal Service has issued numerous stamps
to honor the various religious festivals of America. There are stamps featuring
Hanukkah, Quanza and Eid among others. We urge Congress and the President to aggressively
support the release of a postal stamp to recognize Diwali, the most popular festival
of Hindus Worldwide.
Federal
Holiday
without Pay
Adherents of all religious traditions look forward
to celebrating their respective holidays with family and friends. Many Hindus are
unable to fully celebrate this festival due to a lack of understanding among employers.
We, therefore, urge all elected officials to support legislation
that will allow Hindus to celebrate this holiday without fearing adverse consequences
at the work place. Such holidays can be declared as “unpaid holidays” and will not
have any adverse effect on businesses or rest of the society.