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In January this year, Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and Darshana Patel introduced AB 268, which would declare Diwali as a state holiday in California, in the California Assembly. In early June, the bill passed through the California Assembly with overwhelming support: 78 for and one against. The bill has been referred to the Senate’s appropriations committee, after which it is likely to go to a floor vote.
“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,” the bill reads in its current, amended form. It goes on to say that Diwali “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.”
Diaspora groups like Americans4Hindus, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), and the Sikh Coalition have expressed support for the bill.
Read more about the bill’s journey here.
This text was edited with the assistance of an AI tool and has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and clarity by India Currents.