Diwali is one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals. With a large Indian community living abroad, this festival has also become popular in countries like the USA. Many states in the USA celebrate Diwali, and now California has declared it a public holiday. The California State Legislature has passed the official AB 268 Bill. Scroll down for more details.
California Declares Diwali A Public Holiday
🚨BREAKING | AB 268 (Diwali) has PASSED and is headed to engrossing & enrolling!
Big shoutout to @AsmDarshana and @Ash_Kalra for leading this effort and bringing Diwali recognition one step closer. https://t.co/YBiFt4OKY3 pic.twitter.com/2GTNpOAfAe— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) September 12, 2025
It’s heartening to see Indians abroad staying connected to their roots and celebrating festivals with the same traditions. Keeping in mind the large number of people who celebrate Diwali in California, the state has declared it a public holiday. The ‘AB 268 Bill’ was approved by the Senate on Wednesday, September 10, with 36 positive votes and four against. It was then approved in the Assembly on Thursday, September 11, with 76 votes in favour and four against, reported OpIndia.
The Hindu American Association took to their X (formerly Twitter) to confirm this news and also appreciated Dr. Darshana Patel and Ash Kalra for leading this effort. This bill to declare Diwali as a public holiday was introduced in January this year. It suggested making Diwali an official public holiday, keeping schools and colleges closed, and giving government employees a paid day off for the festival in the state. The Senate and the Assembly have already approved the bill; now, only the Governor’s signature is remaining to officiate this announcement.
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Here’s More About This Bill
The new bill was first introduced by Assembly Members Ash Kalra and Dr. Darshana Patel, with Senator Ben Allen as a co-author. Once approved, it will bring changes in the Code of Civil Procedure, Education Code, and Government Code. However, it will not impact the court. Diwali will not be a judicial holiday, which means courts will remain open.
Every year, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains from all around the world celebrate this festival. The News India Abroad reported that Hindus see it as the triumph of good over evil, while Sikhs celebrate it as Bandi Chhor Divas, the day Guru Hargobind was released from prison. Jains celebrate it for Mahavira gaining liberation in 527 B.C., and Newar Buddhists honour Emperor Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on October 20.
What are your thoughts on this new bill in California? Let us know in the comments section.
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