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California makes Diwali an official statewide holiday
AP News ^ | October 7, 2025 | Deepa Bharath

Posted on 10/09/2025 4:48:37 AM PDT by Twotone

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California has become the third U.S. state to designate Diwali — the Hindu “Festival of Lights” — as an official statewide holiday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law Tuesday to go into effect on Jan. 1. It would authorize public schools and community colleges to close on Diwali. State employees could elect to take the day off and public school students will get an excused absence to celebrate the holiday. The new law recognizes that Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.

Pennsylvania was the first U.S. state to make Diwali a statewide holiday in 2024, followed by Connecticut earlier this year.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: California; US: Connecticut; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: california; dibeaver; dijune; dilumpy; diwali; diward; holiday

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1 posted on 10/09/2025 4:48:38 AM PDT by Twotone
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To: Twotone

Teddy Roosevelt is turning in his grave right now.


2 posted on 10/09/2025 4:55:18 AM PDT by Mathews (I have faith Malachi is right!!! Any day now...)
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To: Twotone

Pagan trash holiday for H1B colonizers.


3 posted on 10/09/2025 4:56:58 AM PDT by HYPOCRACY (Wake up, smell the cat food in your bank account. )
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To: Twotone

I thought this was a made-up holiday on The Office. People in real life celebrate this?


4 posted on 10/09/2025 4:58:56 AM PDT by Kleon
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To: Twotone

It’s a racist holiday because racist Columbus was trying to find a trade route his his racist trade partners in racist India or sumthin’.


5 posted on 10/09/2025 4:59:38 AM PDT by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: HYPOCRACY

You got that right.


6 posted on 10/09/2025 4:59:49 AM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Mathews

So is Kipling.


7 posted on 10/09/2025 5:01:30 AM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Twotone

Trying to eradicate American culture and traditions one *holiday* at a time.

They tried it with all the traditional holidays during the Covid excuse. Can’t do Memorial Day, can’t do the 4th, can’t do Thanksgiving, New Year’s, Easter, or even church although liquor stores could be open.

Now there’s this and Junteenth, and Kawanza etc......

Enough of this crap.


8 posted on 10/09/2025 5:02:44 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus….)
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To: central_va

Sounds like horse pucky to me. Is this related to Kwanzaa!


9 posted on 10/09/2025 5:04:51 AM PDT by oldtech
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To: Twotone

Well, it is newscum’s only logical reaction to the looming joblessness of those groups as the administration clamps down on illegal CDLs they gave to truck drivers...

/s


10 posted on 10/09/2025 5:09:17 AM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 "/!i!! &@$%&*(@ -')
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To: metmom

Just another small step in making ever single day of the year a holiday!


11 posted on 10/09/2025 5:10:43 AM PDT by volare737 ( Diversity is something to be overcome, not celebrated. )
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To: oldtech

No, Vishnu.


12 posted on 10/09/2025 5:12:19 AM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: metmom

Taking incremental steps, they got George Washington’s birthday removed from the calendar. If they are not stopped, Juneteenth will eventually replace Independence Day on the American calendar.


13 posted on 10/09/2025 5:17:43 AM PDT by Dan in Wichita
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To: Twotone

Fine. Now let’s officially recognize Festivus.

Oh, and we should be able to start saying “Merry Christmas” again.


14 posted on 10/09/2025 5:18:03 AM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait.)
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To: Twotone

Another holiday for government workers... Just what Californication needed.


15 posted on 10/09/2025 5:29:44 AM PDT by jerod (Nazis were essentially Socialist in Hugo Boss uniforms... Get over it!)
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To: Twotone

“”It would authorize public schools and community colleges to close on Diwali. State employees could elect to take the day off and public school students will get an excused absence to celebrate the holiday.””

WHO does this make sense to? Schools close but students get excused absences???? And WHEN did any state employee refuse to take a day off when offered?


16 posted on 10/09/2025 5:30:31 AM PDT by Thank You Rush
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To: Twotone

and Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur are not. unwise to open this door.


17 posted on 10/09/2025 5:33:16 AM PDT by avital2
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To: avital2

It is all about those who opened the door.

California Jews lack the power to open the door


18 posted on 10/09/2025 5:36:24 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: Twotone

How cosmopolitan of PA and Cali! How about adding a holiday from Haiti?


19 posted on 10/09/2025 5:37:41 AM PDT by SharpRightTurn (“Giving money & power to government is like giving whiskey & car keys to teenage boys” P.J. O'Rourke)
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To: Twotone

The Bee?..................


20 posted on 10/09/2025 5:44:07 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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