California is adding a new holiday to its calendar. On Monday, Oct. 6, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 268 into law, making California the third state to designate Diwali — the Hindu festival of lights — as an official statewide holiday.

California is the third U.S. state to designate Diwali as an official statewide holiday. The law, newly signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, takes effect January 1.

A new state bill has made the Hindu holiday Diwali an official California state holiday. The bill, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday, goes into effect Jan. 1. Diwali, the Hindu "Festival of Lights," marks the start of the Hindu new year.

California has the largest Indian American population among the states at nearly 900,000. This year’s Diwali starts on Oct. 20. The holiday begins on the 15th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar, which usually falls in October or November.

About 960,000 Indian Americans, making up one fifth of their nationwide population of 4.9 million, live in California

The holiday is a major event in India, particularly for followers of Hinduism and Sikhism, and is marked by candle and lamp lighting.

A big party was held in Elk Grove on Monday night, with the community's annual Diwali celebration taking place.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed AB 268, introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San José), which officially designates Diwali as a state holiday. Diwali, also known as the “Festival of Lights,” is

Sacramento's Indian community is celebrating Diwali with traditions that include cooking sweets and offering prayers for family prosperity. "Everyone is like a family here. Food is a big part of our celebration. We love to cook a lot of sweets," said Shrdha Shah from BAPS Sacramento.

FBI Director Kash Patel, the first Indian American in the role, celebrates Diwali online, sparking both backlash from MAGA supporters and support from diverse communities.

This week marks Diwali, Hinduism’s luminous festival and the most widely celebrated public holiday in India — the world’s most populous nation. Also known as Deepavali, meaning “a row of lights,” it is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the world [1].