California Poised to Recognize Diwali as โฃState Holiday
SACRAMENTO, CAโข – January 14,โ 2025 – California is on the verge of officially declaringโค Diwali a โขpublic holiday, a landmark decision recognizing the cultural significance of the Festival of Lights forโ the state’s large adn growing Hindu American โcommunity. Assembly Bill 268 (AB 268) has passed the legislature and is headed for engrossing and enrolling, the final โsteps before becoming law.
The bill’sโ passage marks a significant victoryโข for advocates who have long sought โขstate-level recognition of Diwali. The Hindu American โFoundation, a leadingโ voice in the effort, lauded the bill’s advancement, stating, “AB 268 (Diwali) has PASSED and is โขheaded to engrossing & enrolling!”โฃ The group โขspecificallyโค acknowledged Assemblymembers Darshanaโ Patel and Ash Kalra for their โคleadership in championing the legislation.
The new law will designate diwali as aโข state โholiday observed โon the 15th โday of kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar. Beyond school closures,โ theโ legislation allows for the integration of Diwali-related cultural education into school programs,โข mirroring existing practices for observances like Native American Day and Genocide Remembrance Day.
Once finalized, Diwali will join Juneteenth, Cesar Chavez Day, andโ Lunar โNew Year as recognized state holidays, underscoring California’s commitment to acknowledging the diversity of its population. This decision reflects the growing influence and visibility of the Hindu โคAmerican community withinโ the state andโค nationwide.