Broward Schools will close for Diwali for the first time in 2025, marking a significant development for Coral Springs businessmen and other community advocates

Coral Springs, Florida – Next October, Broward County Public Schools will formally close for Diwali, which will be a significant turning point for the district’s cultural representation.

Local activists, such as Coral Springs businessman Prem Mirpuri, a longstanding supporter of Indian cultural recognition, are hailing the school board’s vote earlier this month as a major victory.

Mirpuri, an entrepreneur and president of the Indian Regional Cultural Center, stated that it was difficult for students to properly express their culture for a long time because schools did not recognize festivals like Diwali. “I am immensely proud of our Indian cultural heritage and the positive impact it has had on American society as a father of two, a graduate of Broward County Schools, and an active member of our community.”

More than a billion people around the world celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, which represents the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

According to proponents, this ruling enables Broward students to take part in the celebrations without missing class.

“Children will benefit greatly from this decision, as it will enable them to take part in Diwali celebrations without having to choose between tradition and education,” Mirpuri stated. There is more to this new holiday than just a day off. It is an acknowledgment that our culture is respected and valued.

This distinction was the result of years of campaigning and perseverance.

Fareida Rajkumar, a Plantation citizen and member of the Broward County School Board’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee, was one of the key voices in this endeavor.

As their peers observe widely observed religious holidays while their own celebrations go unnoticed, I witness Hindu children feeling excluded every year,” Rajkumar remarked. As a mother of two, I instilled in my girls a sense of pride in our rich cultural legacy, age-old knowledge, and distinctive contributions to contemporary American culture.

The legalization of a Diwali holiday is a major step toward cultural inclusivity, according to Rajkumar and others.

“For me and our community, this was one of the most proud moments,” she said.