California Court Overturns Diwali State Holiday Law, Citing Religious Description Issue

A California court has struck down parts of a law that declared Diwali an official state holiday, delivering a setback to Hindu and Nepali communities less than a year after the law was enacted. The court’s decision focused on the law’s language describing the religious significance of Diwali, ruling that it violated constitutional provisions. While the holiday itself is not banned, the official recognition as a state holiday has been invalidated. The ruling has sparked disappointment among diaspora groups who had campaigned for the recognition. Legal experts say the decision could be appealed, and community leaders are urging California lawmakers to revise the legislation to address the court’s concerns.

Article source: arghakhanchi.com | Image credit: x.com