New York: In a historic development for the Indian diaspora, California has designated Diwali as an official state holiday, becoming the third state in the US to officially recognize the Indian festival of lights as a holiday.
California Governor Gavin Newsom Tuesday, announced that he has signed a bill by Assembly member Ash Kalra designating Diwali as a state holiday.
In September, the bill titled ‘AB 268’to designate Diwali as an official state holiday had successfully passed both houses of the legislature in California and was awaiting final action by Newsom.
The bill signed by Governor Newsom, which is set to go into effect on January 1, would authorize public schools and community colleges to close on the occasion of Diwali. State employees would have an option to elect to take the day off and public school students will get an excused absence to celebrate the holiday, AP reported. The new bill acknowledges that Diwali is celebrated by Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists as well.
The first US state to declare Diwali as a state holiday was Pennsylvania in 2024 and it was followed by Connecticut earlier this year. California has now joined the list of states to declare Diwali as a state holiday. In New York City, Diwali has been declared a holiday for public schools.
The bill titled ‘AB268’ to designate Diwali as an official state holiday had successfully passed both houses of the legislature in California and was awaiting a final ratification by Governor Newsom.
Assembly member Ash Kalra, in September, had said, “California is home to the largest population of Indian Americans, and designating Diwali as an official state holiday will uplift its message to the hundreds of thousands of Californians that celebrate and help introduce it to many throughout our diverse state.”
Kalra added, “Diwali brings communities together with the message of goodwill, peace, and a shared sense of renewal. California should embrace Diwali and its diversity, not keep it hidden in darkness,” PTI reported.
According to a 2025 Pew survey, out of the 4.9 million Indian population living in the United States, 960,000 or 20% reside in California, AP reported.
