Calgary student asks CBE for Diwali school holiday for Diwali; Brooks schools get day off for Eid al-Fitr
Global News
A Calgary junior high student is asking the Calgary Board of Education to make Diwali and Holi traditional holidays for CBE schools.
A Calgary junior high student is asking the Calgary Board of Education to make Diwali and Holi traditional holidays for CBE schools.
Pujeet Garg is a 13-year-old Grade 8 student at Fairview School. He recently sent a letter to CBE trustees.
“Making Holi and Diwali holidays in the CBE will immensely impact students in a positive manner. It will be a beacon of multiculturalism across Canada, celebrating South Asian culture during Asian heritage month,” Garg wrote.
He said the festivals of Diwali and Holi are very important to Indian culture because both days celebrate the triumph of goodness and holiness over sin and evil and signify the importance of restoring good in the world.
Garg said this year his class alone has 10 Hindu students out of 27.
Garg’s parents moved to Calgary from India, where students and workers normally get time off to celebrate Diwali.
He says it’s tough for Hindu kids like him to be sitting at school during Diwali.
“On those days when you are stuck in a chair, you don’t feel as good because you feel like you’re supposed to be home with your loved ones celebrating this massively important holiday but instead you’re just stuck there.