Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: CALIFORNIA made history by adding Deepavali to its official list of state holidays. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 268 into law, allowing public schools, community colleges, and state employees to observe the Festival of Lights with paid time off.
The decision marks a symbolic moment for the nearly one million South Asians who call California home — and for a state that continues to champion diversity and inclusion in every form.
“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 Assembly member Ash Kalra, who authored the bill and became the first Indian American ever elected to the California Legislature. Kalra represents San Jos’s 25th District and has long championed inclusion and cultural visibility in state policy.
Governor Newsom’s signature on October 6 sparked celebrations across Indian American communities from Silicon Valley to Sacramento. Advocacy groups like the Coalition of Hindus of North America called it a long-awaited acknowledgment of the community’s cultural and spiritual contributions. California is now the first state on the West Coast to officially honour Diwali, joining states like Pennsylvania and Connecticut that have already taken similar steps.
In October 2024, Pennsylvania became the first state to officially recognise Deepavali as a state holiday. In New York City, Deepavali has been declared a holiday for public schools.
