Hindus seek Diwali holiday in all New Zealand universities Hindus are asking all universities of New Zealand to declare Diwali, most popular Hindu holy day, as a university-wide holiday. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, pointed out that it would be a step in the right direction in view of presence of a substantial number of Hindu students at New Zealand universities, as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these students. Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that universities should make efforts to accommodate the religious requirements of Hindu students and employees and show respect to their faith by not conducting regular business and scheduling classes on Diwali. We did not want our students to be put at an unnecessary disadvantage for missing tests/examinations/papers, assignments, class work, etc., by taking a day-off to observe Diwali. If universities had declared other religious ho