California Designates Diwali as a Statewide Holiday

California has officially designated Diwali, the Hindu “Festival of Lights,” as a statewide holiday, becoming the third U.S. state to do so. Effective January 1, the law allows school closures, excused absences for students, and paid leave for state employees, recognizing the festival’s significance to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.

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