Diwali, one of the most important Indian festivals, has received international recognition once again. As the festival approaches, the state of California in the USA has officially declared Diwali as a public holiday. The announcement was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Previously, a bill to recognize Diwali as a public holiday was introduced in the U.S. Congress. Following this process, the bill was approved by the California State Assembly and subsequently signed into law by the Governor.

Assembly member Ash Kalra stated that declaring Diwali as an official holiday is a mark of respect for the hundreds of thousands of Indian Americans residing in California. He emphasized that Diwali promotes values of goodwill, peace, and unity within society.

Prior to California, Pennsylvania and New York had already recognized Diwali as an official holiday, making California the third U.S. state to do so.