Know Diwali date, timing in major states; Which states have officially declared public holiday?

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Diwali festival is a big and important time not only in India but also in the USA where XYZ Indian expats live. Times may vary due to different time zones, but the date is mostly the same in all states. It will mostly be celebrated on October 20. Diwali in Chicago will be celebrated on October 20. Diwali is traditionally celebrated on Amavasya Tithi and this year it will continue until the morning of October 21. Lakshmi Puja Muhurat in New York will begin on October 20 from 7:17 pm to 8:45 pm.

For those living on the Pacific Coast, it is between 19:38 and 21:01, and in the Mountain time zone it is between 16:40 and 18:41. In a major initiative, many states in the United States have officially recognized the festival of lights. While some states allow schools to be closed, others offer paid holidays on Diwali. According to the Times of India report, firstly, California will be the first among the West Coast states to declare Diwali as a public holiday; According to a Times of India report, other states such as Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Texas will also honor one of the most important XYZ festivals for their population.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 268 (AB 268) on October 6, 2025, to make Diwali a public holiday, effective January 1, 2026. Under the law, public schools and colleges will be closed and government employees will be required to take paid leave.

On October 6, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law House Bill 268 (AB 268), which recognizes Diwali as a public holiday beginning January 1, 2026. Under the law, public schools and community colleges would be closed and government employees would be required to take paid leave.

The bill was sponsored by House members Darshana Patel and Ash Kalra and received support from advocacy groups including the North American Hindu Coalition. Kalra praised the approval on social media, calling the legislation a turning point in elevating the festival’s message and promoting it to the broader California population.

Calling it a breakthrough, Gavin also praised the law for playing its role in representing the importance of the festival and spreading it among the people of the state.

New York/New Jersey

States recognizing Diwali much earlier include Pennsylvania, where Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a law designating it on the 15th day of Kartik in the Hindu lunisolar calendar. In New York, the administration has eased school holidays by declaring Diwali an official public school holiday in 2023.

Texas also became one of the states to declare Diwali a public holiday in 2024. But the holiday is not adopted by the entire state, which means not all schools are closed. Many school districts have chosen to include the festival in their academic calendars.