American Hindus have appealed for Diwali be declared a school holiday in eight New Jersey school districts including Jersey City, Edison, Woodbridge, Parsippany-Troy Hills, West Windsor-Plainsboro, North Brunswick, Monroe and Bernards.

Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a press release, said that since it was important for Hindu families to celebrate Diwali together at home with their children, "we did not want our children to be deprived of any privileges at the school because of thus resulting absences on this day. Closing schools on Diwali would ensure that and it would be a step in the right direction." Diwali - the Hindu Festival of Lights is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists as well.

Awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would make the students of these school districts well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow. It would also make these districts look good besides bringing cohesion and unity in the community. It would be still better if all school districts in New Jersey, one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse states, where Hindi, and other Indian languages are spoken in many areas, declared Diwali as school holiday, Zed said.

Universal Society of Hinduism has already urged other school US districts in Illinois, California, Massachusetts and Vermont to add Diwali on their respective holiday calendars.

In New Jersey, South Brunswick School District and Passaic City School District have already declared Diwali as holiday, while Bernards Township School District is still considering demand for Diwali as a school holiday. Los Angeles Unified School District in California lists Diwali in its "Calendar of Commemorative Dates and Observances", while New Jersey Department of Education includes Diwali in its "List of Religious Holidays Permitting Pupil Absence From School." The US President has observed Diwali at the White House. An official Diwali reception has reportedly been held at the New Zealand Parliament for the last few years. Two East London boroughs in the UK have reportedly announced Diwali as school closure day in all the community primary and secondary schools.

When is Diwali this year? Find out more...

Perhaps no other faith glorifies the idea of love between the sexes as Hinduism. This is evident from the amazing variety of mythical love stories that abounds Sanskrit literature, which is undoubtedly one of the richest treasure hoards of exciting love tales.

Classical love legends from Hindu mythology and folklore of India are both passionate and sensuous in content, and never fail to appeal to the romantic in us.

These fables fuel our imagination, engage our emotions, sense and sensibility, and above all, entertain us. Here we revisit three such love stories:

• Shakuntala-Dushyant tale
• Legend of Savitri and Satyavan
• Radha-Krishna amour

Ekadasi is 'the Eleventh Day,' of the moon's phase and occurs twice in a lunar month - once each on the 11th days of the bright and dark fortnight. Just like Amavasya and Purnima (new and full moon), Ekadasi and the movement of the moon has a direct correlation with the human mind. So, it is a very auspicious time in the Hindu calendar and an important day to fast.

In the Garuda Purana, Lord Krishna calls Ekadasi as one of the "five boats for the people who are drowning in the ocean of worldly existence", and in the Padma Purana, Lord Vishnu says: "Among all plants, the Tulsi is my favorite, among all months, Kartik, among all pilgrimages, Dwaraka, and among all days, Ekadasi is most beloved."

Learn about the significance of fasting on Ekadasi and how to observe this important fast. Read more...

Thaipusam is an important festival observed by the Hindus of southern India during the Tamil month of Thai (January - February). Outside of India, it is celebrated mainly by the Tamil speaking community settled in Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka and elsewhere around the world.

Thaipusam is dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan or Kartikeya, the son of Shiva and Parvati. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati presented a lance to Lord Murgan to vanquish the demon army of Tarakasura and combat their evil deeds. Therefore, Thaipusam is a celebration of the victory of good over evil. A major feature of Thaipusam celebrations is body piercing.