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Sacramento City Council recognizes Diwali with official resolution
Indian-American community representative Sumiti Mehta participated in the Sacramento City Council’s adoption of a Diwali resolution, highlighting cultural awareness and California’s wider acknowledgment of the festival.
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Staff Reporter - Tue, 28, Oct 2025
- 15:08 EDT
- 20
L-R: Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum, CM Roger Dickinson, CM Caity Maple, Mayor Kevin McCarty, Trustee Sumiti Mehta, Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes, CM Mai Vang, and CM Rick Jennings; row 2 - Sudeep Mehta / Courtesy: Sumiti Mehta
The Sacramento City Council adopted a resolution recognizing Diwali on Oct. 21. The resolution recognizes Diwali as a celebration of unity, hope, and togetherness.
The motion introduced by Mayor Pro Tem Eric Guerra, Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes, and Councilmember Mai Vang was adopted unanimously during a special presentation titled 'Hindu American Awareness and Appreciation Month and Diwali Resolution.'
Sumiti Mehta, the first Indian American woman elected to the Natomas Unified School District Board of Trustees, was among those who accepted the resolution.
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L-R: Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep Students Samaya, Atiksh and Noble / Courtesy: Sumiti MehtaMehta attended the event with her husband, Sudeep Mehta, and student leaders Atiksh Mehta, Samaya Sehgal, and Noble Mahan from Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep School. Council members lit diyas during the presentation to mark the occasion.
Mehta emphasized the importance of passing on cultural traditions to younger generations. “I think every Indian family feels close to those traditions. And they want their kids to learn those traditions,” she said.
The resolution acknowledges the contributions of Sacramento’s South Asian communities, particularly Hindu and Sikh families. It encourages participation in Diwali events across the city and promotes cultural awareness in educational and public spaces.
Previously, on October 19, 2025, a community Diwali gathering was organized at a nearby park. The event was co-hosted by Vice Mayor Talamantes, Trustee Mehta, and Satty Rai from Club Dental Center. The event was supported by the Natomas Unified School District’s CAFE team and North Natomas Jibe.
L-R: Vice Mayor Talamantes, Trustee Sumiti Mehta, State Senator Angelique Ashby / Courtesy: Sumiti Mehta
The city’s action reflects a broader statewide initiative. California joined a growing number of U.S. states to designate Diwali as an official state holiday under Assembly Bill 268, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in Oct. 2025.
The law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026, and recognizes the festival’s observance by over 500,000 families statewide.
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