In a historic development for Indian migrants, California has declared an official state holiday on Diwali. In this way, California has become the third state in the United States, which has officially recognized this light festival of India as a holiday.
California Governor Gavin Nyusam announced on Tuesday that he had signed a bill that has been declared by Assembly member Ash Kalra as a state holiday.
In September, a bill called ‘AB 268’, which declared Diwali as the official state holiday, was successfully passed from both houses of the California Legislature, which was awaited for the final decision of NewSum.
Kalra said last month, “California is the largest population place of Indian Americans and declaring Diwali as an official state holiday will reach millions of California people who celebrate it and will help many people to adopt it in our state filled with diversity.”
He said, “Diwali brings communities together with a message of shared sense of goodwill, peace and renewal. California should adopt Diwali and its diversity, not hidden it in the dark.
In October 2024, Pennsylvania became the first state to officially recognize Diwali as a state holiday, after which this year Connecticut declared it a state holiday.
Diwali has been declared a holiday in government schools on Diwali in New York City. Community leaders and major migrant organizations welcomed the announcement of California to declare a state holiday on Diwali.
The non-profit organization ‘IndiaSspora’ said that this recognition not only reflects the vibrancy of Diwali, but also shows the permanent impact of the Indian American community across the US.
MR Rangaswamy, the founder and president of ‘Indiaspora’, said in a statement that this historic decision respects the generations of Indian Americans who have contributed to the development and success of California.