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In a historical improvement for the Indian diaspora, California has designated Deepavali arsenic an authoritative authorities holiday, becoming the 3rd authorities successful the United States (the U.S.) to officially recognise the Indian festival of lights arsenic a holiday.
California Governor Gavin Newsom connected Tuesday (October 7, 2025) announced that helium has signed a Bill by Assembly subordinate Ash Kalra designating Deepavali arsenic a authorities holiday.
In September, the Bill titled ‘AB 268' to designate Deepavali arsenic an authoritative authorities vacation had successfully passed some houses of the legislature successful California and was awaiting last enactment by Mr. Newsom.
Last month, Mr. Kalra has said California was location to the largest colonisation of Indian Americans and designating Deepavali arsenic an authoritative authorities vacation would uplift its connection to the hundreds of thousands of Californians who observe and assistance present it to galore passim the divers state.
He said Deepavali brings communities unneurotic with the connection of goodwill, peace, and shared consciousness of renewal, adding that California should clasp Deepavali and its diverseness and not support it hidden successful darkness.
In October 2024, Pennsylvania became the archetypal authorities to officially recognise Deepavali arsenic a authorities holiday, followed by Connecticut this year. In New York City, Deepavali has been declared a vacation for nationalist schools.
Community leaders and starring diaspora organisations welcomed California’s announcement of designating Deepavali a authorities holiday.
Non-profit organisation Indiaspora said that with California, the astir populous authorities successful the nation, officially recognising Deepavali, “Indian Americans observe a large milestone successful the ongoing travel toward greater taste inclusion and visibility. This designation reflects not conscionable the vibrancy of Diwali, but the enduring interaction of the Indian American assemblage crossed the United States.”
Indiaspora Founder and Chairman M.R. Rangaswami said successful a connection that this historical determination honours generations of Indian Americans who person contributed to California’s maturation and success.
“Governor Newsom’s enactment reflects the inclusive tone our federation needs today.” Recognising Deepavali arsenic a authorities vacation affirms that diverseness is genuinely our strength,” Mr. Rangaswami said arsenic helium congratulated Mr. Kalra and Assembly subordinate Dr. Darshana Patel, the joint-authors of the Bill.
Hailing the “landmark legislation” arsenic a “historic" infinitesimal for Indian-Americans, particularly successful California, Indiaspora said this is simply a “powerful designation of the community’s affluent taste practice and longstanding contributions to the Golden State.”
“For the much than 1 cardinal Indian Americans who telephone California home, this is simply a infinitesimal of immense pridefulness and joy. Indian Americans person been instrumental successful shaping California’s vibrant and divers landscape—contributing to the economy, serving successful government, enriching the arts, sciences, and civic life, and uplifting communities crossed the state,” the organisation said, adding that California, successful turn, has welcomed the assemblage with unfastened arms.
It said declaring Deepavali a authorities vacation affirms that Indian Americans were not conscionable participants successful California’s story—they were woven into the precise cloth of its identity.
Indiaspora noted that New York City took a “groundbreaking” measurement by mandating nationalist schoolhouse closures for Deepavali, with November 1, 2024, marking the archetypal clip schools were officially closed for the festival. Several schoolhouse districts crossed New York State, beyond New York City, volition besides observe Deepavali arsenic an authoritative holiday.
Prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneur, philanthropist and erstwhile advisor to President Joe Biden, Ajay Bhutoria, said the announcement is simply a “radiant milestone” successful California’s travel toward existent inclusivity and taste celebration.
“Diwali, our cherished Festival of Lights, embodies the eternal triumph of anticipation implicit hardship, unity implicit division, and cognition implicit ignorance—a connection that resonates profoundly with the astir 1 cardinal South Asians who telephone California location and lend immensely to its innovation, economy, and spirit,” Mr. Bhutoria said.
He added that this designation is much than a holiday. “It’s a almighty affirmation of the Indian diaspora’s enduring bequest successful the Golden State. From tech trailblazers successful Silicon Valley to healthcare heroes successful Southern California, our assemblage has woven threads of resilience and diverseness into the cloth of American excellence,” Mr. Bhutoria added.
“By granting authorities employees paid clip disconnected and empowering schools to observe this ineffable day, the authorities ensures families tin afloat clasp traditions similar lighting Diyas, making Rangoli, and sharing stories of renewal—without the shadows of enactment oregon deadlines,” helium said.
Mr. Bhutoria expressed gratitude to Newsom, Mr. Kalra and Mr. Patel and said, “Your advocacy has not lone brightened Deepavali for generations but besides inspired a federation to observe our shared light."
