Sacramento, California, USA: Schools and state employees may soon get the option to observe the Indian festival of lights, though courts would remain open.
The California State Assembly has passed AB 268, legislation that proposes adding Diwali to the state’s official list of holidays. The bill, introduced by Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and Dr. Darshana Patel, with Senator Ben Allen as a lead coauthor, will now advance to the next legislative stage for engrossment and enrollment.
The proposal updates provisions in the Code of Civil Procedure, Education Code, and Government Code, giving state employees the right to take a paid holiday for Diwali. It also allows public schools and community colleges to close for the celebration if agreements are reached with staff unions. However, Diwali would not become a judicial holiday—meaning California’s courts would continue to operate on that day.
“Diwali, a festival deeply meaningful to Indian Americans and the wider South Asian community, is observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains across the U.S. and worldwide,” the legislation explains.
Lawmakers highlighted the festival’s diverse cultural and spiritual significance. For Hindus, the lighting of lamps represents truth and wisdom triumphing over darkness. Sikhs commemorate Diwali as Bandi Chhor Divas, marking the release of Guru Hargobind from captivity. Jains celebrate the spiritual liberation of Mahavira in 527 B.C., while Newar Buddhists recall Emperor Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism.
The Hindu American Foundation, which has long campaigned for this recognition, applauded the bill’s progress. In a statement, the organization said, “AB 268 (Diwali) has PASSED and is moving forward to engrossment & enrollment! Huge thanks to @AsmDarshana and @Ash_Kalra for leading the way and pushing Diwali recognition forward.”
According to the bill, Diwali would be officially observed on the 15th day of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar. Schools that close for the festival would also be encouraged to include cultural activities related to Diwali in their programs, similar to how Native American Day and Genocide Remembrance Day are recognized.
If enacted, the measure would elevate Diwali alongside other state-recognized holidays such as Juneteenth, Cesar Chavez Day, and Lunar New Year, reflecting California’s growing acknowledgment of its multicultural communities.
