WHEREAS, Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is celebrated by a substantial swath of New York City residents. It is celebrated by people of Indian heritage: Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs, in the United States. NYC has the greatest settlement in the US of immigrants from India. Many NYC residents who originated from the Indian diaspora and from several other nations (e.g. Bangladesh, Fiji, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, and Sri Lanka) where Hinduism is practiced also celebrate Diwali. This festival is a time for thanksgiving; prayer for health, knowledge, and peace; and celebration of the triumph of light over darkness; and

WHEREAS, an ever-increasing number of students and staff celebrate Diwali, and it is important that our greater student body and community learn of or be reminded of the religious and historical significance of Diwali, a celebration that speaks to the core of what we aim to teach our students. During Diwali, we pray for health, knowledge, and peace, for healing, learning, and light; and

WHEREAS, this school year, the DOE scheduled open school for elementary and K-8 schools during the holiday of Diwali. Meetings were held 4:30 to 7:30 PM, during one of the holiest interludes of the day, when lamps are lit before and during sunset to symbolically banish evil, an essential tradition of Diwali; and

WHEREAS, showing respect for the celebration of another religion will promote multiculturalism, a professed highly held value at the DOE. Making students aware of Diwali and its peaceful values will encourage dialogue and promote knowledge of important global traditions. It will encourage thoughtful understanding of different perspectives and help dissipate divisiveness amongst our students and the DOE community; therefore be it

RESOLVED, the UFT will advocate that the DOE will be conscious of this important holiday, look for ways to promote its celebration, and respect the staff and students who celebrate Diwali; and be it further

RESOLVED, the UFT will continue to advocate for diversity in its practices and to promote multiculturalism, which brings true intrinsic education, tolerance, and cooperation going forward.