California governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed a law making Diwali an official state holiday.The AB 268 law will take effect on January 1, 2026 allowing community colleges and public schools to close on Diwali and state employees can take the day off with pay. This move follows Newsom’s 2023 veto of a bill on caste discrimination. The bill recognises that Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, ensuring broader inclusivity. Nearly 20% of the nation’s Indian-American population lives in California.Newsom previously served as Lieutenant Governor and Mayor of San Francisco. He is widely recognized for progressive policies in healthcare, civil rights, education and environmental protection.His record includes landmark reforms in same-sex marriage, gun safety, marijuana legalization and universal healthcare, according to the National Governors’ Association.
What AB 268 means for communities?
According to the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), the law is a historic step toward inclusion for Hindu Americans in California.In a post on X, the organization wrote: “We thank Governor Gavin Newsom for recognizing this important festival and ushering in a new era of inclusion for Hindus in California. Huge shout out to Assembly Members Darshana Patel and Ash Kalra for sponsoring the bill.”
What’s under the new law?
Under AB 268, California officially recognizes Diwali as a state holiday and outlines specific provisions for schools, colleges and state employees:
- School and college closures: Public schools and community colleges may close on Diwali; students attending school may take leave.
- Paid leave for employees: State employees can elect to take the day off with pay; certain employees in public schools and colleges are also eligible.
- Cultural and educational recognition: Schools and colleges may include exercises that highlight Diwali’s meaning, traditions and significance.
- Inclusion across faiths: Diwali is recognized as a holiday celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
- Judicial holiday status: Diwali is added to the list of holidays excluded from designation as judicial holidays, clarifying its legal recognition.
This year, the festival will be celebrated on October 21.For Sikhs, Diwali coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, celebrating the release of Guru Hargobind from imprisonment. For Jains, it commemorates Mahavira’s attainment of moksha and for Buddhists, it marks Emperor Ashoka’s embrace of Buddhism.
Background: California’s evolving recognition of Diwali
California becomes the third US state to officially recognize Diwali as a statewide holiday, following Pennsylvania (2024) and Connecticut (2025).Assemblymember Ash Kalra, who co-authored the bill, said: “To have South Asian children be able to proudly celebrate and share it with others is a significant moment.”
Newsom’s pro-Hindu record: The 2023 caste bill
In 2023, Governor Newsom vetoed a bill that would have explicitly banned caste discrimination in California. The measure aimed to define caste as a subset of ancestry under civil rights laws, giving residents legal recourse against caste-based discrimination, as reported by CNN.Newsom explained the veto by saying the legislation was “unnecessary,” highlighting that existing laws already prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, ancestry, and other protected categories.In a statement issued, he said: “In California, we believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are, where they come from, who they love, or where they live. That is why California already prohibits discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation and other characteristics, and state law specifies that these civil rights protections shall be liberally construed.”California State Senator Aisha Wahab who proposed Senate Bill 403, aimed to make caste a protected category under state anti-discrimination laws. The bill sought to prevent discrimination based on caste in areas such as housing, employment and education, as reported by CNN.
Community response
The Hindu American Foundation highlighted the practical benefits of the law.“The provisions that allow students to take the day off without repercussion and state employees to take paid leave are important leaps toward making Diwali truly accessible to those who celebrate,” said Samir Kalra, managing director of the Hindu American Foundation.Rohit Shendrikar, board chair of the South Asian Network in Southern California, reflected on the personal impact:“I think about my parents’ immigrant experience when they moved here in the 1960s,” he said. “I celebrate Diwali together at home with my parents and my children, who will now have the opportunity to share their traditions and customs with friends. It helps build a bond between Californians.”Amid protests in Los Angeles in June over US President Donald Trump’s immigration raids and military actions, Newsom addressed the state in a nationally televised speech, marking his entry into the 2028 presidential conversation.
