Setback for Hindu Americans: California court strikes down state’s Diwali holiday law
- A California court has struck down parts of the state's landmark Diwali holiday law, less than a year after the festival was officially recognised as a state holiday, according to the Hindu American Foundation (HAF).
- The ruling centres on how the legislation described Diwali's religious significance, rather than its broader aim of allowing students and employees to observe the festival without having to choose between their faith and their responsibilities, HAF said.
- California formally recognised Diwali as a state holiday in October 2025 after Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation introduced
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- A California court has struck down parts of the state's landmark Diwali holiday law, less than a year after the festival was officially recognised as a state holiday, according to the Hindu American Foundation (HAF).
- The ruling centres on how the legislation described Diwali's religious significance, rather than its broader aim of allowing students and employees to observe the festival without having to choose between their faith and their responsibilities, HAF said.
- California formally recognised Diwali as a state holiday in October 2025 after Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation introduced
Sources: Times of India