A court in California has struck down legislation that recognized Diwali as a state holiday, less than a year after the order came into force, according to the Hindu American Foundation.
The state had recognized the festival as a public holiday in October 2025, amending sections of the Code of Civil Procedure, Education Code, and Government Code to grant state employees the option of taking paid leave on Diwali. It also authorized public schools and community colleges to close on the holiday through agreements with employee unions.
However, Diwali was not designated as a judicial holiday, meaning courts remained open. It also did not make Diwali a mandatory paid holiday for everyone. Pennsylvania and Connecticut had previously designated Diwali as a public holiday.
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“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 legislation had stated. The law specified that Diwali would be observed on the 15th day of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar. In addition to school closures, it allowed related cultural exercises to be incorporated into education programs, similar to those for Native American Day and Genocide Remembrance Day.
The Hindu American Foundation criticized this move, saying the ruling focused on the wording of law that describes Diwali’s religious significance, rather than the practical purpose of the holiday.
“Last October, Hindu Americans celebrated a historic milestone when California recognized Diwali as an official state holiday, a meaningful step toward acknowledging the traditions and contributions of the state’s Hindu community. Now, that recognition has been challenged in court,” HAF said on X.
READ: California set to declare Diwali as a public holiday (
“The ruling focused on the wording of the law describing Diwali’s religious significance, rather than the practical purpose of the holiday: allowing students and employees to observe an important holiday without being forced to choose between their faith and their responsibilities.
HAF is monitoring this lawsuit and will continue supporting Hindu Americans in California as we work to protect the ability of our community to celebrate the holidays that matter,” the organization added.
The court order referenced by HAF is yet to be released, according to reports. It is also not clear whether the legislation has been overturned entirely, or in parts.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated by millions of Indians around the world. California has one of the highest populations of Indian Americans in the United States.