Diwali, the vibrant festival of lights celebrated in Hinduism and other religions, will become an official state holiday in California starting in 2026.

The new law was sponsored by Democratic state Assemblymember Ash Kalra, who represents part of San Jose. Starting next year, public schools and community colleges will be able to close on Diwali, and state employees can choose to take the day off with pay. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signed the bill on Monday.

The new state holiday “will uplift its message to the hundreds of thousands of Californians that celebrate and help introduce it to many throughout our diverse state,” Kalra said in a September statement. “Diwali brings communities together with the message of goodwill, peace and shared sense of renewal. California should embrac

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