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California Assembly passes bill to recognize Diwali as a state holiday
The legislation would allow schools and state employees to observe the Indian festival, but not courts.
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Pranavi Sharma - Mon, 15, Sep 2025
- 01:05 EDT
- 77
Assemblymember Ash Kalra and Darshana Patel / X
California lawmakers have passed AB 268, a bill that would add Diwali to the state’s list of official holidays. The measure, introduced by Assembly Members Ash Kalra and Dr. Darshana Patel with Senator Ben Allen as principal coauthor, now moves forward for engrossing and enrolling.
The bill amends sections of the Code of Civil Procedure, Education Code, and Government Code to grant state employees the option of taking paid leave on Diwali. It also authorizes public schools and community colleges to close on the holiday through agreements with employee unions. However, Diwali would not be designated as a judicial holiday, meaning courts would remain open.
“Diwali, a festival of great significance to Indian Americans and South Asian Americans, is celebrated annually by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains throughout the United States and across the globe,” the legislation states.
Lawmakers emphasized the broader cultural and religious importance of the festival. The bill notes that Hindus view the lighting of lamps as symbolic of knowledge and truth prevailing over negativity. Sikhs mark Diwali as Bandi Chhor Divas, the day Guru Hargobind was freed from imprisonment. Jains commemorate the liberation of Mahavira in 527 B.C., while Newar Buddhists honor Emperor Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism.
The Hindu American Foundation, which has advocated for the recognition, welcomed the bill’s passage. “AB 268 (Diwali) has PASSED and is headed to engrossing & enrolling!” the group said in a statement. It added, “Big shoutout to @AsmDarshana and @Ash_Kalra for leading this effort and bringing Diwali recognition one step closer.”
BREAKING | AB 268 (Diwali) has PASSED and is headed to engrossing & enrolling!
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) September 12, 2025
Big shoutout to @AsmDarshana and @Ash_Kalra for leading this effort and bringing Diwali recognition one step closer. https://t.co/YBiFt4OKY3 pic.twitter.com/2GTNpOAfAe
The law specifies that Diwali would be observed on the 15th day of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar. In addition to school closures, it allows related cultural exercises to be incorporated into education programs, similar to those for Native American Day and Genocide Remembrance Day.
Once finalized, the measure would place Diwali alongside holidays such as Juneteenth, Cesar Chavez Day, and Lunar New Year, marking a milestone for California’s recognition of its diverse communities.
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