On October 6, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 268 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) which makes California the third state to designate Diwali as an official statewide holiday.
Diwali is popularly known as the “Festival of Lights” during which celebrants light small oil lamps, place them around the home, and pray for health, knowledge, and peace. The light for many Hindu families symbolizes the light of good and overcoming the evils of darkness. Diwali can carry additional meaning for Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains.
According to AB 268, this bill would add “Diwali” to the list of state holidays. The bill would authorize community colleges and public schools to close on “Diwali,” as specified. The bill would authorize state employees to elect to take, and would authorize certain community college and public school employees to be given, time off with pay in recognition of “Diwali,” as specified. The bill would authorize public schools and educational institutions throughout the state to include exercises acknowledging and celebrating the meaning and importance of Diwali, as specified.
Last year, Pennsylvania (SB 402, 2023) became the first state and this year Connecticut (Public Act 25-59) became the second state to officially recognize Diwali as a state holiday. New York requires public schools in the city of New York to be closed on Diwali as a school holiday (S.7574/A.7769, 2023-24). Other states are also considering Diwali holiday recognitions.
- (a) Diwali, a festival of great significance to Indian Americans and South Asian Americans, is celebrated annually by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains throughout the United States and across the globe.
- (b) The word “Diwali” is a shortened version of the Sanskrit term “Deepavali,” which means “a row of lamps.”
- (c) Diwali, one of the world’s oldest continuing religious holidays, brings together families, friends, and communities here in California, the United States, and around the globe in goodwill, peace, and a shared sense of renewal.
- (d) Diwali is a festival of lights during which celebrants light small oil lamps, place them around the home, and pray for health, knowledge, and peace.
- (e) Hindu celebrants of Diwali believe that the rows of lamps symbolize the light of knowledge and truth within the individual that signifies the destruction of all negative qualities such as violence, anger, jealousy, ignorance, greed, fear, or suffering; Diwali celebrates the victory of good over evil.
- (f) For Sikhs, Diwali coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, meaning Day of Liberation, marking the day that the sixth founding Sikh Guru, revered teacher Guru Hargobind, was released from captivity by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir after his wrongful imprisonment.
- (g) For Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the attainment of moksha, or liberation, by Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankaras, the great teachers of Jain Dharma, at the end of his life in 527 B.C.
- (h) For Buddhists, especially Newar Buddhists, Diwali is commemorated as Ashok Vijayadashami, the day the great Emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism as his faith.
More Background:
- Sept. 23 – Assemblymember Kalra’s Legislation to Designate Diwali as a State Holiday Passes the Legislature
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