BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — California is now the third state to officially recognize Diwali as a statewide holiday.

The Festival of Lights is shining bright in Bakersfield. Local Indian and Sikh communities are preparing to celebrate Diwali. For Sikhs, it’s also Bandi Chhor Divas, commemorating the historic release of political prisoners by Guru Hargobind.

Manpreet Kaur the Vice Mayor, of the City of Bakersfield says,

“Just like any other faith tradition, each religion has its own particular holidays. We can point to Christmas in the Christian and Catholic faiths, there's Hanukkah, and for the Muslims there's Eid. For the Sikh and Hindu faith traditions — especially within South Asia — Diwali tends to be the largest and most popular holiday for us.”

Local shops like Spice Land are fe

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