California's Diwali bill sparks renewed calls for a public holiday in South Africa

AS THE US states begin recognising Diwali as an official holiday, local Hindu leaders have intensified their decades-long campaign for equal recognition, saying this move could promote cultural diversity and social cohesion in the South Africa.

They have called on the government to declare Diwali, also known as Deepavali, a public holiday in South Africa.  

This comes after the California legislature recently passed Assembly Bill 268, which would add the “festival of Lights” to the state’s official holiday list.

However, in order for the bill to become a law, Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, is required to sign it before October 12. 

According to reports, in June this year, Ned Lamont, the Governor of Connecticut signed SB 1519 into law making it the second state to include Diwali. Pennsylvania was the first US state to designate Diwali as an official holiday in 2024.

The festival of lights will be celebrated on October 20 in South Africa.

Professor Brij Maharaj, deputy president of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha(SAHMS), said since 1994 they had made several submissions to the government to declare a national holiday for Diwali, without success.

“The South African calendar follows a Western Christian ethos, which is also reflected in the determination of public holidays. However, Boxing Day and Easter Monday have little or no spiritual or scriptural significance. The SAHMS made a submission to the government that these two holidays should be reallocated for Diwali and Eid, respectively. Such a declaration would be reasonable, logical and pragmatic, and would address the bias and discrimination against minority faiths in terms of the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994.

“In addition, about a decade ago, Maureen Moloi of the South African Law Commission stated that the two main public holidays observed by Christians were Good Friday and Christmas. She said that as paid public holidays, these created a differentiation between those who practised Christianity, and those who practised other religious faiths in the country, whose faith-based occasions were not included in the holidays,” he said.

Maharaj said the SAHMS believed that religious holidays are important, and that equal weight should be accorded to festivals of other faiths.

“The reality is that, except for rhetorical homage on Heritage Day, minority cultures and religions are largely invisible in South Africa. Declaring a national holiday for Diwali would increase recognition, respect, reconciliation and understanding of South Africa’s religious and multicultural heritage. It would also help to realise the mission of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities to ‘promote and protect the rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities’. 

“It would translate the noble intentions of the Bill of Rights and Constitution pertaining to minorities into reality, go a long way towards reducing racism, prejudice and xenophobia,  and promote reconciliation, tolerance, harmony and social cohesion,” he said. 

Maharaj added that South Africa had a unique opportunity to promote unity and reconciliation by formally recognising Diwali as a public holiday.

“By doing so, the government would demonstrate that it values the rich cultural and religious diversity of its citizens. Declaring Diwali a public holiday can provide a platform for nationwide dialogue and cultural exchange, allowing different communities to engage in celebratory and educational activities that highlight their traditions and shared values, fostering mutual respect and understanding. Diwali, with its universal themes of light and hope, is an ideal occasion for promoting national unity and social harmony.

“In the 21st century, in a digitally connected global village, Diwali has become an international festival celebrated across geographical boundaries, faiths and cultures. Beyond India, Diwali is a public holiday in Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and in some US states,” he said. 

Ram Maharaj, president of the South African Hindu Dharma Sabha (SAHDS), said they had recently wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare Diwali a public holiday.

He said since 1999 they had been writing to the relevant authorities including previous presidents to declare Diwali a public holiday, to no avail.

“In 2024 the office of the minister of home affairs informed us that the presidency’s office was dealing with the matter. With the advent of democracy in 1994, it was hoped that the overly Euro-centric and Christian-supremist that dominated calendar which was imposed during the oppressive colonial and apartheid regimes, would be duly reviewed and revised to become more inclusive to enhance social cohesion, nation building and human solidarity. 

“The declaration of Diwali as a public holiday would transform the apex lodestar policy of our government regarding unity in diversity into reality and foster inter-religious understanding, respect, appreciation, harmony and peace,” he said. 

Maharaj said the essential message of Diwali was that the good forces of light inevitably triumph over the dark forces of evil, and would light up hope and happiness in all South Africans for a brighter and better future.

“The wise declaration of Diwali as a public holiday would also ensure that equality of treatment of all religious and cultural groups, social justice for all, and moral regeneration, would not remain an empty rhetoric but become a reality in our beloved country, South Africa,” he said. 

Dr Mickey Chetty, president of the International Movement for Tamil Culture South Africa, said he made representations to the Minister in the Presidency, Dr Essop Pahad, while previously serving as the president of the South African Tamil Federation. 

“Further representations were made that Diwali should be made a public holiday during a meeting with the National Religious Board and the Presidency. These were made directly to the then-President Jacob Zuma by the late advocate Ashwin Trikamjee, who was the president of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, and it was supported by myself. 

“I strongly believe that Diwali should be made a public holiday as it is celebrated by diverse communities in South Africa today and should be given recognition and status equally as other public holidays,” he said. 

Seelan Archary, chairperson of the Shree Mariammen Temple Society, said over the years he had made several requests to former premiers in the province. 

“During their attendance at our temple functions, I publicly requested that they have Deepavali declared a public holiday, to which they all responded they would look into. However, nothing happened even though comments such as the festival of lights forms part of the tapestry to our cultural diversity in South Africa, and therefore our requests would be given serious consideration. 

“However, we can only remain hopeful. The temple society and the North Coast Diwali Celebration Committee, together with all of our sister organisations, ask that the Deepavali be declared a public holiday,” he said. 

Reverend Ethan Ramkuar, a director of the non-profit organisation Survival Centre, said in September last year, they had written to the national home affairs department to amend the Public Holidays Act to accommodate Diwali, Eid-ul-Fitr and traditional African holidays.

“We are now monitoring the progress made by the department. I believe it is only fair that the government recognises our diversity and different cultures. However, the organisation will be making further submissions calling for public debate. It is no easy process, but surely we will get there as a nation.”

POST https://thepost.co.za/