AB 268: A new reason to celebrate?

Gov. Gavin Newsom will soon get to decide if a new state holiday will be coming to California. 

Assembly Bill 268, authored by Assemblymembers Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) and Darshana Patel (D-San Diego County), would add Diwali, a holiday celebrated by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and  Jains to the roster of California holiday celebrations that includes the likes of Cesar Chavez Day and Native American Day.

Since Diwali is based on the Hindu lunar calendar and not the Georgian calendar the United States uses, the official date changes yearly. Under this proposal Diwali, which is traditionally celebrated for five days, would be established as “the 15th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu lunar calendar of each year.” 

With close to 900,000 Indian Americans, California is home to the largest Indian population in the United States, according to political advocacy organization Indian American Impact.

In a press release for AB 268, Kalra said, “Designating Diwali as an official state holiday not only recognizes the festival’s religious and historical importance but will better enable those throughout the Indian diaspora and beyond to take part in one of the world’s oldest religious holidays.” 

Patel called it a “historic moment,” in the press release. 

“Diwali, the Festival of Lights, symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and reflects California’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity. AB 268 will help create a brighter future for all Californians,” she said.

Through letters of support and providing witness testimonies, nonprofit advocacy and educational organization, Hindu American Foundation has been working with the authors of AB 268 to get the bill passed through the legislature.

“I think it would go a long way in supporting Hindu Americans in California, and would also allow California to join other states that have taken similar decisions,” says Samir Kalra, the foundation’s managing director for policy and programs.

Hinduism boasts a number of holidays, but Kalra said there were two main reasons for Diwali to be chosen as the subject for AB 268. 

One, while Diwali is celebrated for different reasons based on the religion a person subscribes to, Samir says it has the most consistent celebration across the entirety of the South Asian American population. 

Second, since Diwali usually falls around mid-October to mid-November, Samir says it fortuitously aligns with “that time of year when families are more likely to take time off from school or to take time off from work in order to celebrate.”

In establishing Diwali as a state holiday, the bill would allow for California community colleges and public schools to close in recognition. It would also allow state employees to take time off with pay.

While the measure passed with overwhelming majorities in every vote in both chambers, it has drawn opposition from some groups, including the evangelical Christian group California Family Council.

In his letter of opposition, California Family Council Vice President Greg Burt, wrote AB 268 “breaches the neutral stance the state is supposed to have towards particular religions and instead promotes the celebration of Diwali, a religious holiday for Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists within our public schools.”

In establishing Diwali as a state holiday, the bill would allow for California community colleges and public schools to close in recognition. It would also allow state employees to take time off with pay.

This is in reference to a section of the bill that states educational institutions may choose an alternate day to “include exercises, funded through existing resources, acknowledging and celebrating the meaning and importance of Diwali.”

“If you’re teaching them to celebrate, that is not objective,” Burt said in an interview with Capitol Weekly. “You’re now requiring a kid to participate in a religious activity that might not be his faith.”

Burt said he advocates for educating not celebrating. Instead of participating in “this particular religious ceremony,” Burt said educational institutions should instead state the factual data such as the importance of the holiday and what it represents for the people who celebrate it. 

The Church State Council, which advocates for religious freedoms, also opposes the bill, arguing “it is not the government’s role to promote religions, or to favor any religion above any other.”  

The Assembly approved the measure on a 78-0 vote on June 2nd, while the Senate endorsed it 36-0 (with four abstentions) on September 10th. The Assembly gave its concurrence the following day. The final decision now lies with Newsom. 

Acsah Lemma is an intern with Capitol Weekly’s Public Policy Journalism Internship program.