California Becomes First West Coast US State To Recognise Diwali As Official Holiday

California has made history by becoming the first West Coast state to officially recognise Diwali as a state holiday. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 268 into law on October 6, granting schools and state employees the option to observe the Festival of Lights with paid leave.

The bill was introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, California’s first Indian American legislator, who described the move as a “victory for inclusion, visibility, and shared humanity.” Kalra emphasised that Diwali stands for “hope over despair, light over darkness, and community over division” — values deeply resonant with California’s spirit of diversity.

The law also allows schools and community colleges to close for Diwali while granting state workers a floating holiday to mark the occasion. The bill, co-sponsored by Assemblymember Darshana Patel, received broad bipartisan support in the state legislature.

Indian American communities across California welcomed the move, calling it a historic recognition of their cultural and spiritual heritage. Advocacy groups like the Coalition of Hindus of North America celebrated it as long-overdue acknowledgment of the contributions of Indian Americans to U.S. society.

California now joins Pennsylvania and Connecticut as the only U.S. states to officially recognise Diwali — a step many see as a symbol of America’s growing multicultural inclusivity.

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