California joins Pennsylvania and other US states in recognising Diwali as a state holiday- Here's the full list of states

Diwali celebrations in the US are getting brighter and bigger. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a historic bill on October 6 that made Diwali an official state holiday in California. The move puts California on a growing list of U.S. states that celebrate the Festival of Lights overseas.

What does the new law in California say about Diwali?

Assembly members Darshana Patel and Ash Kalra co-sponsored the law, AB 268, and it was backed by groups like the Coalition of Hindus of North America. It lets public schools and community colleges close for Diwali and lets state workers take paid time off to celebrate.




Assembly member Ash Kalra, who is in charge of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, praised the move on social media, saying, “Thank you so much @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom and to my Capitol and Judiciary Committee staff who worked tirelessly all year on these important policies that are now state law! More to come!”

What does it mean to recognize Diwali as a state holiday?

Ash Kalra said that making Diwali a 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."

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The decision shows that California is still working to make sure that all communities are welcoming and accepting of people from different cultures.

Which other states recognise Diwali as a state holiday?

California is the first state on the West Coast to officially recognize Diwali as a holiday. It joins Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Texas.

The law in Pennsylvania, which Governor Josh Shapiro signed, says that Diwali falls on the 15th day of Kartik in the Hindu lunisolar calendar. Even though schools and government offices don't have to close, the recognition shows how important the festival is to the culture and religion

FAQs

When does California's Diwali holiday start?
The new law will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

What other states in the U.S. celebrate Diwali?
Diwali is already an official holiday in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Texas.