California officially recognizes Diwali as a state holiday under new law

UPDATED: Oct 8, 2025 06:32 IST

California made history by adding Diwali to its official list of state holidays. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 268 into law, allowing public schools, community colleges, and state employees to observe the Festival of Lights with paid time off.

The decision marks a symbolic moment for the nearly one million South Asians who call California home — and for a state that continues to champion diversity and inclusion in every form.

“This is more than just a new holiday on the calendar — it’s a recognition of the values that Diwali represents: Hope over despair, light over darkness, and community over division,” said Assemblymember Ash Kalra, who authored the bill and became the first Indian American ever elected to the California Legislature. Kalra represents San Jos’s 25th District and has long championed inclusion and cultural visibility in state policy.

Kalra, joined by co-sponsor Assemblymember Darshana Patel, secured broad bipartisan support for the measure, which allows schools and community colleges to close for Diwali and gives state employees the choice to take a paid holiday to celebrate. “California should embrace Diwali and its diversity — not keep it hidden in darkness,” Kalra said when the bill passed the legislature last month.

Governor Newsom’s signature on October 6 sparked celebrations across Indian American communities from Silicon Valley to Sacramento. Advocacy groups like the Coalition of Hindus of North America called it a long-awaited acknowledgment of the community’s cultural and spiritual contributions.

Among those cheering the move was Ajay Bhutoria, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and former advisor to President Biden on the AANHPI Commission. “Today marks a radiant milestone in California’s journey toward true inclusivity,” Bhutoria said in a statement. “AB 268 ensures families can fully embrace traditions like lighting diyas, crafting rangoli, and sharing stories of renewal — without the shadows of work or deadlines.”

He added that the recognition isn’t just about a festival — it’s about “affirming the Indian diaspora’s enduring legacy in the Golden State,” from tech innovators to healthcare professionals who “have woven threads of resilience and diversity into the fabric of American excellence.”

California is now the first state on the West Coast to officially honour Diwali, joining states like Pennsylvania and Connecticut that have already taken similar steps.

- Ends