California declares Diwali a state holiday from 2026, allowing schools to close and state employees to take the day off. Photo: X.
California has officially recognized Diwali as a state holiday, becoming the third US state to do so after Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on Tuesday, with the law set to take effect on January 1, 2026. The new legislation allows public schools and community colleges to close on Diwali. State employees may opt to take the day off, and public school students will receive an excused absence to celebrate the festival.
The bill was co-authored by Assembly members Ash Kalra of San Jose and Darshana Patel of San Diego. The state has a growing, large, and diverse South Asian community. According to a 2025 Pew survey, nearly one million Indian Americans reside in California.
“To have South Asian children be able to celebrate and share it with others proudly is a significant moment,” Ash Kalra said.
While Diwali is widely celebrated as a major Hindu festival, the legislation also acknowledges its significance for Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.
San Jose, a city in California’s Silicon Valley, has a substantial Indian American population. Data from the 2025 Pew survey shows that 960,000 of the nation’s 4.9 million Indian Americans – roughly 20% – live in California.
Hindu American organizations, including the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and the Coalition of Hindus in North America, actively advocated for the law.
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Samir Kalra, managing director of HAF, told Hindustan Times, “The provisions that allow students to take the day off without repercussion and state employees to take paid leave are important leaps toward making Diwali truly accessible to those who celebrate.”
Other advocacy groups, including the Sikh Coalition, contributed to ensuring the bill’s language was inclusive. Puneet Kaur Sandhu, Sacramento-based senior state policy manager for the Sikh Coalition, said, “It’s so meaningful that all of us in the community can take this day to celebrate.”
Diwali, which falls on October 20 this year, originates from the word “Deepavali,” meaning “a row of lights.” Celebrants light rows of lamps to symbolize the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Traditional celebrations include festive gatherings, fireworks displays, feasts, and prayers.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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