Making Diwali a public holiday would boost social cohesion

Indian South Africans celebrate Diwali or Deepavali (the festival of lights) in post-democratic South Africa with city-wide festivals and events, and a more significant presence and awareness of the festival and its significance.

The recent media suggestion for the festival lights to become a national public holiday in South Africa can only be perceived as a positive marker of social cohesion, multiculturalism and respect for each individual in South Africa. We have been lagging in this quest.

The state of Pennsylvania, USA, has also endorsed the motion for Diwali to attain a special public holiday status this year. Similarly, the city of New York supported the festival as an official school holiday for New Yorkers in 2023. The festival has become popular and is socially inclusive in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and the Fiji Islands because the day has been declared a public holiday.

The inclusive stance to suggest Diwali becomes a public holiday aligns strongly with our constitution and reinforces the need for our society to be inclusive, socially cohesive and respectful towards multiculturalism as a way of life. The national recognition of the celebration will also ensure that every South African is fully aware of the festival, the cultural background and the significance of celebrating Diwali.