Signing Assembly Bill 268 into law Tuesday (US time), California Governor Gavin Newsom declared the Hindu ‘Festival of Lights’ Diwali an official statewide holiday. Following in suit after Pennsylvania (2024) and Connecticut (2025), California is now the third state in the US to do so.

Indian-origin and Hindu communities have since flooded social media with thankful messages, directing their gratitude towards the California governor. The new law goes into effect on January 1, 2026, and it would allow public schools and community colleges to close on the day of the festival.

Indian-American community applauds California Gov Gavin Newsom

With Diwali added to the list of state holidays, the Coalition of Hindus of North America CoHNA wrote, “We thank @CAgovernor for recognizing this im

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