California officially declares Diwali a state holiday

In a historic move, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom on October 7, 2025, signed legislation making Diwali an official statewide holiday, effective January 1, 2026.

The law enables public schools and community colleges to close on the festival, allows state employees to take paid leave, and grants students excused absences for Diwali celebrations.

Under the new measure, public schools and community colleges may opt to close on Diwali, and state employees will have the choice to observe the festival without taking unpaid leave. Students will also benefit, as schools will recognize Diwali as a legitimate reason for absence.

The bill recognizes that Diwali is celebrated not only by Hindus, but also by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.

The legislation, known as Assembly Bill 268 (AB 268), was co-authored by Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and Darshana Patel. It passed both the California Assembly and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support.

In the Senate, the bill was approved by a margin of 36 votes in favor to 4 against.

Advocates and members of the Indian American and South Asian American communities welcomed the move as a significant step toward cultural recognition and inclusion. Ash Kalra remarked that the holiday allows children to express their heritage openly in schools and public spaces.

According to demographic data, California is home to roughly 20 percent of the U.S. Indian American population, with an estimated 960,000 Indian Americans residing in the state.

With this law, California becomes the third US state to declare Diwali a state holiday, following Pennsylvania and Connecticut.