LOS ANGELES, Oct 8: California has officially declared Deepawali or Diwali, the Hindu “Festival of Lights,” a statewide holiday, becoming the third U.S. state to do so. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation, which takes effect on January 1, the Associated Press ( AP) reported.
The new law allows schools and colleges to close for the celebration, gives state employees the option to take the day off, and grants students excused absences. It also acknowledges that Diwali is observed by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. Pennsylvania and Connecticut had earlier passed similar laws recognizing Diwali as a state holiday, according to the AP.
Assembly member Ash Kalra of San Jose, who coauthored the bill with Darshana Patel of San Diego, said the recognition gives South Asian children a chance to celebrate their heritage openly.
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He described the change as an important cultural milestone. California, home to nearly 1 million Indian Americans — about 20% of the national total — has seen growing advocacy for official recognition of Diwali. Hindu American groups, including the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus in North America, had pushed for the law, the AP reported.
Samir Kalra, managing director of the Hindu American Foundation, said allowing students to take time off and state employees to use paid leave made the celebration more inclusive. Diwali, derived from “Deepavali,” meaning “a row of lights,” symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
Celebrations include lighting lamps, fireworks, feasts, and prayers. While primarily a Hindu festival, it is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, each attaching different historical or spiritual meanings to the occasion, the AP stated.
Sikh communities mark Bandi Chhor Divas during Diwali, honoring Guru Hargobind’s release from imprisonment under Mughal rule. Puneet Kaur Sandhu from the Sikh Coalition said it was meaningful that the law included all faiths observing similar holidays, stated the AP.
Rohit Shendrikar of the South Asian Network added that the move not only honors the South Asian community but also strengthens cultural connections across generations in California, the AP reported.
