It's Official, California Recognizes Diwali as State Holiday

Historic legislation makes California third U.S. state to recognize Hindu Festival of Lights.

California has officially designated Diwali as a statewide holiday, becoming the third U.S. state and the first on the West Coast to recognize the Hindu "Festival of Lights". Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 268 into law on October 6, 2025, with the legislation taking effect on January 1, 2026.

The landmark law authorizes public schools and community colleges to close on Diwali, allows state employees to take paid time off, and grants public school students excused absences to celebrate the holiday. Importantly, the legislation recognizes that Diwali is celebrated not only by Hindus but also by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.

"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 co-authored the bill with Assemblymember Darshana Patel. Kalra, the first Indian American elected to the California Legislature, represents San Jose's 25th District.

The designation holds particular significance for California, which is home to approximately 960,000 Indian Americans—representing 20% of the nation's total Indian American population of 4.9 million. The Silicon Valley region, including San Jose, has a particularly sizable South Asian community.

"To have South Asian children be able to proudly celebrate and share it with others is a significant moment," Kalra said, reflecting on his own experience of celebrating Diwali in isolation from his broader community.

Hindu American organizations, including the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus of North America, actively advocated for the legislation. The Coalition called it "a historic step toward inclusion for Hindu Americans in California".

California follows Pennsylvania, which became the first state to declare Diwali a statewide holiday in 2024, and Connecticut, which did so earlier this year. This year's Diwali celebration falls on October 20.