Hindus have commended Mozambique government for reportedly granting Diwali holiday to Hindu employees.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was a step in the positive direction and thanked Mozambique President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosário and Labor Minister Vitória Dias Diogo for this gesture.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged other countries in Africa to also grant Diwali holiday in view of substantial presence of Hindus. It was not fair with Hindus who had to work or attend school on their most popular festival.
Rajan Zed noted that holidays of all major religions should be honored and no one should be penalized for practicing their religion. Moreover, it was significant to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these Hindus and it was important for Hindu families to celebrate Diwali day together at home with their children.
Zed further says that Hinduism is rich in festivals and religious festivals are very dear and sacred to Hindus. Diwali, the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Besides Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and some Buddhists also celebrate Diwali, which falls on October 30 in 2016. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.