Society/Culture Should Diwali, the Indian cultural festival, be made a public holiday across Australia?

[Cmarsh]

Calls for Diwali to be made a public holiday across Australia

Australia's Indian community is renewing calls for the Hindu festival of Diwali to be recognised as a publ...

www.9news.com.au

I guess the question is has it made enough of an impact in Australia's cultural landscape to be considered for a public holiday? Would it be accepted as such?

 

[Rusty Brookes]

So my workplace is celebrating Diwali today. However, we don't celebrate any other religious holidays - no Ramadan, Hanukkah, Easter celebrations, etc

We don't even have a Christmas celebration (which for a large number of people like me is a secular celebration anyway) - we have an End of Year celebration.

If people want to celebrate Diwali go ahead, more luck to you. Have a great time.

But I'm not Hindu, I'm not a huge fan of religion full stop (there are some really disturbing elements of Hindu if you follow what goes on in India)and I think Diwali is an environmental headache for the people of India

Three Indian cities among world’s 10 most polluted after Diwali festival

New Delhi, as usual, takes top spot while Mumbai comes sixth with an AQI of 157, followed by Kolkata with an AQI of 154.

www.aljazeera.com

I dunno, I'm probably being an a-hole here but it does give me the irits that I'm expected to participate in a religious celebration. For the record, I'm not attending the celebration but I reckon I shouldn't have been asked to in the first place. Bugger, cos I love Indian food so joke is on me.

 

[apollo_creed]

They're not forcing you to celebrate it/attend, so I don't see a problem.

My workplace has morning tea for all sorts of random stuff, if I'm hungry and want a cheap feed I'll attend, if I'm not then I won't.
I also don't keep track of what holidays/international days they celebrate.

It's not the celebration that bothers me it's the inane small talk that getting a sugar fix and a cheap feed requires.

 

[Rob R]

So my workplace is celebrating Diwali today. However, we don't celebrate any other religious holidays - no Ramadan, Hanukkah, Easter celebrations, etc

We don't even have a Christmas celebration (which for a large number of people like me is a secular celebration anyway) - we have an End of Year celebration.

If people want to celebrate Diwali go ahead, more luck to you. Have a great time.

But I'm not Hindu, I'm not a huge fan of religion full stop (there are some really disturbing elements of Hindu if you follow what goes on in India)and I think Diwali is an environmental headache for the people of India

Three Indian cities among world’s 10 most polluted after Diwali festival

New Delhi, as usual, takes top spot while Mumbai comes sixth with an AQI of 157, followed by Kolkata with an AQI of 154.

www.aljazeera.com

I dunno, I'm probably being an a-hole here but it does give me the irits that I'm expected to participate in a religious celebration. For the record, I'm not attending the celebration but I reckon I shouldn't have been asked to in the first place. Bugger, cos I love Indian food so joke is on me.

Sounds like they were being polite inviting you and it is your choice?

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[Rusty Brookes]

The invite (if it can be called that) came from management. It would be a bit different if I was invited to someone's house. That's not work sanctioned. Just find it interesting that it seems OK to celebrate one religious holiday but not another.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

They're not forcing you to celebrate it/attend, so I don't see a problem.

My workplace has morning tea for all sorts of random stuff, if I'm hungry and want a cheap feed I'll attend, if I'm not then I won't.
I also don't keep track of what holidays/international days they celebrate.

It's not the celebration that bothers me it's the inane small talk that getting a sugar fix and a cheap feed requires.

Oh yeah - I'm with you on the whole morning tea full stop. While not being forced to attend, it is always implied that you are expected to attend. Otherwise you're not a team player.

 

[apollo_creed]

Oh yeah - I'm with you on the whole morning tea full stop. While not being forced to attend, it is always implied that you are expected to attend. Otherwise you're not a team player.

Yep, that’s caught me out before.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

I believe if you celebrate one, you celebrate all. Mind you, gaining support for a Ramadan celebration would be a tough gig. "Right everyone, no one is allowed to consume any food while at the office today".

 

[Mofra]

As a Dudist I should get the 20th of May off every year.

 

[evolved2]

So my workplace is celebrating Diwali today. However, we don't celebrate any other religious holidays - no Ramadan, Hanukkah, Easter celebrations, etc

We don't even have a Christmas celebration (which for a large number of people like me is a secular celebration anyway) - we have an End of Year celebration.

If people want to celebrate Diwali go ahead, more luck to you. Have a great time.

But I'm not Hindu, I'm not a huge fan of religion full stop (there are some really disturbing elements of Hindu if you follow what goes on in India)and I think Diwali is an environmental headache for the people of India

Three Indian cities among world’s 10 most polluted after Diwali festival

New Delhi, as usual, takes top spot while Mumbai comes sixth with an AQI of 157, followed by Kolkata with an AQI of 154.

www.aljazeera.com

I dunno, I'm probably being an a-hole here but it does give me the irits that I'm expected to participate in a religious celebration. For the record, I'm not attending the celebration but I reckon I shouldn't have been asked to in the first place. Bugger, cos I love Indian food so joke is on me.

Was it a religious celebration or mostly cultural observance?

The boundaries do get crossed at times, though I wouldn't be concerned unless it became preachy. We celebrate Christmas as a very secular holiday in Australia and I don't see a problem with welcoming other religions into our secular fold. Muslims and Hindus generally do food a lot better than us, so that's a win.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

I dunno, I'm probably being an a-hole here but it does give me the irits that I'm expected to participate in a religious celebration. For the record, I'm not attending the celebration but I reckon I shouldn't have been asked to in the first place.

That's cool, next time just sit in the corner and sulk. I'm sure they won't ask you again after that.

 

[evolved2]

That's cool, next time just sit in the corner and sulk. I'm sure they won't ask you again after that.

We're a secular nation and it's a valid discussion.

 

[Mofra]

Was it a religious celebration or mostly cultural observance?

The boundaries do get crossed at times, though I wouldn't be concerned unless it became preachy. We celebrate Christmas as a very secular holiday in Australia and I don't see a problem with welcoming other religions into our secular fold. Muslims and Hindus generally do food a lot better than us, so that's a win.

That's the nub.

Diwali just sounds like a bit of music and a good feed. Win/win.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

We're a secular nation and it's a valid discussion.

Excellent, let's start the discussion by asking why Christmas and Good Friday are public holidays since we're a secular nation. Is my workplace holding a Christmas lunch or an Easter morning tea oppression?

 

[evolved2]

Excellent, let's start the discussion by asking why Christmas and Good Friday are public holidays since we're a secular nation.

Red herring.

Is my workplace holding a Christmas lunch or an Easter morning tea oppression?

OP said their workplace doesn't have a Christmas celebration.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

Red herring.

In what way?

OP said their workplace doesn't have a Christmas celebration.

Great. Mine does.

 

[evolved2]

In what way?

In context of the OP.

Great. Mine does.

I'm sure you could ignite an interesting discussion on the topic.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

That's cool, next time just sit in the corner and sulk. I'm sure they won't ask you again after that.

I stood outside the tea room with a cross and a megaphone telling people to stop this blasphemy.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

Red herring.

OP said their workplace doesn't have a Christmas celebration.

Should point out it used to be called a Christmas celebration but was changed in the past couple of years to End of Year Celebration. Already have one person in the office who is going to insist on making it all about Christmas and has challenged HR to do something about it. Said person (not me btw) is an atheist.

 

[the_interloper]

Just celebrate the World Cup win instead.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

Was it a religious celebration or mostly cultural observance?

The boundaries do get crossed at times, though I wouldn't be concerned unless it became preachy. We celebrate Christmas as a very secular holiday in Australia and I don't see a problem with welcoming other religions into our secular fold. Muslims and Hindus generally do food a lot better than us, so that's a win.

Well this is where it got a bit murky. With management's request came a website which explained the religious significance of the day - great to learn about other cultures and all but some people might have interpreted is preachy (I didn't but if I was of a religious orientation I might see it that way). If we celebrate Diwali should we celebrate Eid or Hanukah? I wouldn't expect Jewish people to have to celebrate an Islamic holiday nor would I expect Muslims to celebrate a Jewish holiday, particularly with what's happening in Israel.

You're right that Christmas and Easter are now secular (although there are Christians that hate this aspect of it) but they are also very steeped in non-Christian traditions anyways (Easter Eggs anyone?). And as I've noted our work Christmas celebrations have been renamed End of Year celebrations so as not to have any religious connotation.

Like I said in the OP, joke might be on me. I missed out on the samosas (not that I struggle to find good Indian food where I live) but part of me still feels it's wrong to insist on celebrating one religion at the expense of others.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

Just celebrate the World Cup win instead.

Haha! Don't worry we've been doing that in the office.

 

[the_interloper]

Haha! Don't worry we've been doing that in the office.

The funny thing is even cricket fans don't really care about ODIs anymore, the Indians do though ha ha

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

I'm keen to know how this all played out.

Did upper management decide to impress a key indian account by putting on a show celebration of Diwali this year? Did the boss call heavies to round up the workforce into the break room for a forced morning tea?

Or...

Did the new Indian graduate offer to throw a bit of a celebration to share the culture with the office and is now a bit confused why Keith from accounts is refusing to leave his office while muttering "we'll fight them on the beaches" etc.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

I'm keen to know how this all played out.

Did upper management decide to impress a key indian account by putting on a show celebration of Diwali this year? Did the boss call heavies to round up the workforce into the break room for a forced morning tea?

Or...

Did the new Indian graduate offer to throw a bit of a celebration to share the culture with the office and is now a bit confused why Keith from accounts is refusing to leave his office while muttering "we'll fight them on the beaches" etc.

Not quite. About half the office is from the sub-continent. Anyways in the spirit of religious pluralism, I'm suggesting to management that we celebrate Unveiling Day.

Holidays

The Satanic Holidays are steeped in long traditions that predate TST: Lupercalia, Hexennacht, Unveiling Day, Halloween, Sol Invictus. Celebrate with us!

thesatanictemple.com

 

[Pie eyed]

Sounds like they were being polite inviting you and it is your choice?

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The whole country gets Christmas shoved down its throat every year ad infinitum.
I should get compensation for that total BS.