Indian diaspora in Pennsylvania, US will now have an official Diwali state holiday after Governor Josh Shapiro signed the bill in this regard on Wednesday.

“For the first time ever, Diwali is now a state-recognised holiday here in Pennsylvania,” wrote Governor Shapiro on X.

He added, “No matter what you look like, where you come from, who you love or who you pray to, you have a place in PA — and as Hindu, Jain, and Sikh Pennsylvanians celebrate the Festival of Lights later this week, I hope everyone has a joyous Diwali and a prosperous new year.”

On Monday, Shapiro signed Senate Bill 402 into law, officially recognising Diwali as a state holiday in Pennsylvania.

In his special message, US Senator John Cornyn greeted the Indian diaspora in Texas with Diwali wishes, ahead of the festivities.

Greeting the Diwali wishes for the five-day festival, Cornyn wrote, “Texas is home to hundreds of thousands of Indian-Americans, whom I am proud to represent in the US Senate.”

This year, Diwali holidays will be celebrated from October 29 to November 3, with the ‘festival of lights’ falling on October 31 or November 1.

Gujaratis also celebrate ‘bestu varas’ or the Gujarati New Year, a day after Diwali on the Pratipada Tithi in the month of Kartik. This time, it falls on November 2.

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Govt declares 21-day Diwali vacation for schools, colleges from Oct 28