{ FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS } California declares Diwali an official holiday

IT'S THE THIRD U.S. STATE TO DO SO

- Associated Press

California has become the third U.S. state to designate Diwali — the Hindu “Festival of Lights” — as an official statewide holiday.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Tuesday to go into effect on January 1. It would authorise public schools and community colleges to close on Diwali. State employees could elect to take the day off and public school students will get an excused absence to celebrate the holiday. The new law recognises that Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.

Pennsylvania was the first US state to make Diwali a statewide holiday in 2024, followed by Connecticut earlier this year.