Columbus, Ohio: Hindu students in Ohio will now receive school holidays for Diwali and two additional Hindu holidays each year, thanks to a new law announced by Indian American State Senator Niraj Antani. The bill, co-sponsored by Antani, was passed by the Ohio Legislature and signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine.
“Because of this law that I co-sponsored, every Hindu student in Ohio will be able to take school off as a holiday for Diwali beginning in 2025, and then for the rest of history. This is an incredible victory for Hindus in Ohio,” said Antani.
A Historic Milestone
Antani highlighted that this legislation makes Ohio the first state in American history to grant every student the right to take Diwali as a school holiday. As the first Hindu American State Senator in Ohio and the youngest Hindu American state or federal elected official in the nation, Antani described this as a groundbreaking step toward religious inclusivity.
The law goes further than recognizing Diwali, allowing students to take off for two additional religious holidays of their choice. “A Gujarati Hindu student can take a day off for Navaratri or Annakut, a BAPS devotee can take off for Pramukh Swami Maharaj Jayanti, a Telugu Hindu student can take off for Ugadi, a Tamil Hindu student can take off for Pongal, and so on,” Antani explained.
Addressing Cultural Challenges
Antani reflected on his own childhood, saying, “I remember as a kid during Navaratri on weeknights not being able to stay for dandiya at the end of the night. This will no longer be a problem for any Hindu kid in Ohio henceforth.”
The bill requires parents to send a signed letter to the school principal, specifying the religious holidays their child will observe. The letter must be submitted within 14 days of the school year’s start, and the principal must approve the days off.
Broad Support and Recognition
“Ohio is setting an example for the rest of the country on how schools can ensure all students can practice their faiths fully without the fear of negative academic consequences,” said Samir Kalra, Managing Director of the Hindu American Foundation.
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has designated October 20 and 21, 2025, as Diwali holidays.
Community Reactions
Rakesh Ranjan, Director of the Cleveland Chapter of the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), celebrated the decision. “As a Hindu parent of students who recently graduated in Cleveland, this would have been astounding to have during Diwali. It would have allowed my children to observe Diwali fully and without worrying about their studies. Now, no other Hindu student or parent in Ohio will have this worry,” he said.
Utsav Chakrabarti, Executive Director of HinduACTion, added, “This landmark effort empowers nearly 120,000 Hindus across the state to celebrate their cherished traditions with their families, fostering inclusion and cultural understanding. More importantly, it furthers Ohio’s commitment to upholding family values. This will serve as a template for other states with significant Hindu populations to emulate.”
