Requesting an Excused Absence for Festival or Observance

What is a reasonable religious accommodation?

A reasonable religious accommodation is any change in a student’s course of study with respect to the way tasks or responsibilities are customarily done that enables a student to observe a sincerely held religious practice or belief without undue hardship for the educational institution or substantial modifications to academic standards. 

In essence, this means that a school may accept a request to accommodate that your child will be fully engaged in a religious festival by either granting them an excused absence, or adjusting how assessments or assignments are given to them in a reasonable manner. Your child will still need to maintain the pace of their studies, and how to do so should be discussed with the teacher so that they aren’t given an unfair advantage over other students in their class by such an accommodation.

Parents and students should consult the institutional/district policy handbook to determine the process to formally request a religious accommodation.

Examples

  1. A group presentation has been assigned on a day that coincides with Shivaratri. One of the students contacts the teacher to request an accommodation as they will be observing Shivaratri. A reasonable accommodation may include offering this student’s group an alternate date to present that does not conflict with the religious observance.
  2. A midterm falls on the day after Diwali. A student contacts the teacher to request an accommodation as they will be observing Diwali. Diwali is the main night of this five day festival and celebrations can continue late into the night. Not only does the student anticipate being tired from Diwali celebrations, but cumulatively so from celebrations over the two days prior to Diwali. A reasonable accommodation may include working with the student to identify a day either prior to or subsequent to the five-days of Diwali. 

Important: Each school district has their own regulations on unexcused and excused absences.  Each school district has a specific number of days permissible as excused absences, and any excused absence granted to accommodate religious observances will contribute to the total allowable absences. Please familiarize yourself with your child’s school district’s policy on attendance requirements and excused absences. A family will typically request an excused absence for a religious observance that occurs in the school week during term time. If a child does not receive permission for an absence and goes beyond the allowable absences, state law penalties may be imposed and your child may be no longer eligible to complete that grade or attend that school. 

Sample Letter

Please make sure to fill out the form on the side so that the letter is automatically populated with your information.

Excused Absence Request

Dear ,

Re: Request for religious excused absence

I am writing to request an accommodation for the absence of my child from classes or deadlines without penalty on due to our family’s observance of the Hindu religious festival of . This will enable to participate in the observance of this important religious event.

(Add this next sentence only if your student is in a public school district/institution)
This request is being made pursuant to the Department of Education’s Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools, 2023.

This festival is .

I will ensure that maintains their pace of studies and submits all required assignments at a time that is consistent with your expectations in light of this policy. Should an exam or assignment be affected by 's excused absence, I would be willing to work with any reasonable alternative arrangements you suggest.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at or . On behalf of my family, we thank you for your consideration of this religious accommodation.

With gratitude,

Copy Letter

Brief Descriptions of Hindu Sacred Days

Each family will celebrate a particular festival in accordance with the regional or specific Hindu Dharma tradition to which they belong. The festivals listed below are most commonly celebrated, however, there are festivals not mentioned that are particular to a family’s specific tradition. Please consult with them directly on those. 

Please Note: Hindu dates follow one of a dozen lunisolar calendars and which are calibrated specifically to the geographic location of the user – Hindus born in the US tend to follow US dates, however Hindus immigrating from elsewhere may celebrate in accordance with the times of their home country. The calendar link for Hindu festival dates according to the US can be found here.

Dīpāvali/Tihār/Diwāli
This is the most popular Hindu festival, and it is observed for five days. Each of the evenings and some of the mornings feature important religious gatherings. As such, a family may request excused absences for their child during this period. 

Holī
Though often perceived as only a social gathering, this festival has deep religious significance. There are ceremonies on the full-moon the night before which may result in delays for any assignments and the inability for the student to prepare adequately for any tests the day after.

Rakshā Bandhan/Shrāvaṇi/Avani Avittam
This full moon is sacred for two reasons. One, because of celebrating the bond between siblings, and the other because of renewing of intentions to study and transmit traditional teachings. This is a daytime festival, with the most important ceremonies taking place either in the morning or the evening.

Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭami
The appearance of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the embodiment of the Supreme Being, is celebrated at midnight on this day. Many Hindus observe fasting from food and drinks for 24 hours and may perform devotions at home or attend a local Mandir (Hindu temple) from the evening till after midnight. Accordingly, this would affect a student in the evening of the festival and the day after. 

Gaṇeśa Caturthī
Celebrated by most Hindus, this is the festival of the appearance of the embodiment of the Supreme Being, known as Śrī Gaṇeśa. The festival can be multiple days depending on the celebrations organized by the community, but the main day of the festival is known as Gaṇeśa Caturthī. Families may perform devotions at home or attend a local Mandir (Hindu temple), which is why an excused absence would be most appreciated so that the child can participate in all relevant parts of the festival. 

Onam
Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated particularly by communities hailing or with heritages from Kerala, a state in India. Though the celebrations may last up to five days, typically a child would participate in the festivities on the main day, for which an excused absence may be requested. 

Fortnight of the Ancestors (Pitṛpakṣa)
Hindus from all regions and traditions observe Pitṛ Pakṣa to honor the memory of their deceased relatives. A family may request an excused absence for the particular lunar day within these two weeks on which their dear family member or ancestor is honored. 

Navarātri
Navarātri is the Hindu festival of the Divine Feminine, and is celebrated for nine nights. Hindus with ancestral ties to different regions of South Asia and the diasporas observe this festival in different ways. However, as the festival places focus on daytime prayers and fasting, and nighttime gatherings, a family may choose to focus on one particular day for their child, and so may request an excused absence for that day or combination of days. Alternatively, they may request an excused absence for the day after a night in which the child was involved in the festival.

 Vijayā Daśami/Dussehra
The day after the final night of Navarātri is significant to Hindus belonging to the Śākta, Vaiṣṇava, Smārta, and Sanātanī Hindu Dharmas, and the regions of Bengal/Bangladesh, and Nepal. A family from these traditions may request an excused absence for this particular festival.

Soora Samhāram
This one-day festival is important for Hindus with heritages in Tamil Nadu and nearby regions, particularly those who practice the Hindu Kaumaram Dharma tradition. 

Gītā Jayanti
On this day, Hindus of the Vaiṣṇava and Smārta/Sanātani Hindu Dharma traditions observe the revelation of the Bhagavad Gītā, one of the central sources of knowledge in their traditions. It is common for families or communities to gather and recite its 742 verses, a process which may take up to 7 hours with the associated religious ceremonies. 

Makara Sankrānti/Lohri/Poṅgal
This multi-day festival is marked by Hindus from all traditions. Some Hindus may observe it in a small way, but most have ceremonies on the morning of the main day, and gatherings on the preceding and subsequent days. 

Vasanta Pañcami/Sarasvatī Pūjā
Hindu communities or individual families will observe the festival of the spring in honor of the personification of wisdom, Sarasvati. The main ceremony takes place during the first half of the day, though temples and larger community gatherings may occur in the evening.

Thai Pūsam
This major festival is observed by Hindus belonging to the Hindu Kaumāra Dharma and Smārta/Sanātani Dharma traditions with heritages in Tamil Nadu and nearby regions. Daytime ceremonies and evening community gatherings at Mandirs are common.

Mahā Śivarātri
This is the most holy festival for members of the Śaiva Dharma, and extremely significant for the Smārta/Sanātani Hindu Dharma traditions. For many, the observance begins in the morning with a ceremony to mark the 24 hour fast from food and water (with exceptions for the very young, old, sick, or pregnant). The main focus of the festival begins from 6pm on the evening of Mahā Śivarātri and concludes at 6am on the morning after. A child may stay up for the whole night, or for a portion of the night. Combined with fasting, it may make sense to request an excused absence on the day of, the day after, or both.

Hindu Lunar New Year
This day is observed by a morning-time ceremony, which communities usually accomplish before school time. However, it is also the first day of the nine-night Springtime Navāratri, which is similar to the Navarātri in the fall-semester. The difference is that more emphasis is given to the daytime ceremonies. Families from Śākta and Smārta/Sanātani Hindu Dharmas may observe this with great focus, and so may request an excused absence for their child on any of the significant days.

Rāma Navami
The festival honoring the appearance of the Supreme Being in the embodiment known as Śrī Rāma is celebrated by practitioners of the Vaiṣṇava and Smārta/Sanātani Hindu Dharmas. The festival commences mid-morning and culminates at midday, commemorating the anniversary on the exact time that Śrī Rāma appeared on Earth. Hindus observing this festival may fast, conduct private observances at home or attend Mandir celebrations, and thus may request an excused absence for this particular day – perhaps even a half-day if the celebration concludes before the school lunch is over and a family member can bring the child to school in time.   

Hindu Solar New Year/Vaisākhi
This observance is celebrated by all Hindus, marking the beginning of the new Solar Year. Ceremonies may commence the day before and conclude the day after, or be focused on the main day itself.  

Nirjalā Ekādaśī
Hindus from the Vaiṣṇava and Smārta/Sanātani Hindu Dharma traditions that do observe this significant day will engage in a 24-hour food and drink-less fast. Guardians may request an excused absence for the day of the fast, and the child may be a little groggy the day after.