Hindu students in Ohio, USA, to get Holidays for Diwali and other Hindu festivals

Ohio (USA) – Hindu students in the Ohio State of the USA will now get holidays for Diwali. Additionally, they can take two religious leaves each academic year for other Hindu festivals. This announcement was made by Indian-American legislator Niraj Antani, who said, “The bill I introduced was first approved by the Ohio State House and Senate, and it has now been signed into law by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.”

Key Points from Legislator Niraj Antani :

1. With the new bill, every Hindu student in Ohio will be able to take a holiday for Diwali in 2025, as well as for two other festivals of their choice. This is an incredible victory for the Hindu community in Ohio. Ohio has made history as the first State in the US to grant every student a holiday for Diwali.

2. Under this law, students are allowed two additional religious holidays. For example, Gujarati Hindu students can take a day off for Navaratri or Annakut Mahotsav (Govardhan Puja). Telugu Hindu students can choose Ugadi, Tamil Hindu students can opt for Pongal, Bengali Hindu students can select Durga Puja, Punjabi Hindu students can celebrate Lohri, and ISKCON followers can take Krishna Janmashtami off.

3. No Hindu student in Ohio will face academic challenges due to festivals. As per the bill, parents will send a signed letter to the school headmaster requesting leave for their child’s religious observance. This letter must mention the specific religious holiday and be submitted within 14 days from the first day of the school year.