Why Not Diwali?

The Citizen Comment section of Tuesday night’s Franklin School Committee meeting included an impassioned request by KP Sompally, a former candidate for Town Council, to finally recognize a demographic reality in Franklin and add Diwali to the list of observed school holidays – something implemented in nearby Hopkinton in 2019.

Sompally read from a letter that he addressed to the school committee:

“I am a parent, community member, volunteer, and my child attends Franklin High School. I would like to request committee to discuss at next meeting about DIWALI as an observed holiday

"The Town of Franklin observes numerous holidays – Christmas, Thanksgiving, Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah and many more.

"We connect to each other through our different cultures with respective values. We have people from different ethnicities, religions and nationalities. We’re a growing town with good representation from several communities. Adopting an inclusive approach allows diversity to flourish.

"Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by people of multiple faiths.

"About 800 Franklin families celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights and could celebrate well by being together, if it is a holiday.

"Every year, I am one of 5 million Americans who celebrate Diwali across our nation. I think it’s all more important to educate people about other backgrounds so that we can all live more in harmony, tolerance and inclusion. A holiday for Diwali will be a great inspiration for students who are trying to fulfill Franklin public school’s mission of being a global citizen.

"Thank you for your time, service and consideration.”

Sompally pointed out that in addition to Hopkinton, other Massachusetts communities including Andover, Framingham, Sharon, and Westborough have made Diwali an observed holiday.