Diwali has been added to California’s official list of statewide holidays, just in time for this year’s festivities.
This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 268, which places Diwali — also known as Deepavali and the Hindu “Festival of Lights” — on the list of officially observed state holidays. The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Diwali falls on Oct. 20, but the date varies each year, similar to Lunar New Year, and is based on the Hindu lunar calendar.
Diwali becomes the 12th California state holiday. Others include Christmas, Thanksgiving, Independence Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Cesar Chavez Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day.
Under the new law, community colleges and public schools can close on Diwali. State employees can also elect to take the day off; certain community colleges and public school employees will get time off with pay on the holiday.
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California is the third state, following Pennsylvania and Connecticut, to officially recognize the holiday. The New Jersey Department of Education allows students to be absent to observe Diwali, and public schools in New York City are closed in observance of the holiday.
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