On Monday, Gov. Josh Shapiro officially recognized Diwali as a state holiday in Pennsylvania by signing Senate Bill 402 into law during a celebration hosted by the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian American & Pacific Islander Affairs.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a new bill into law recognizing Diwali as a state holiday in Pennsylvania.

Diwali is a state holiday after Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bipartisan bill into law. Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is one of the most significant festivals in South Asian culture, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.

The Governor’s office emphasizes that the holiday serves to acknowledge the festival’s cultural significance and encourages all Pennsylvanians to participate in the celebrations.

By signing this bill into law, we are not only recognizing the importance of Diwali but also celebrating the rich cultural heritage and many contributions of the Asian American community to Pennsylvania,

Diwali is a major religious holiday celebrated by over a billion Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists around the world. The holiday represents the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness, with its name coming from the Sanskrit word deepvalli, meaning “row of lights.”

Now that Governor Josh Shapiro signed the bill into law, Pennsylvania has a new holiday on the calendar. Formerly Senate Bill 402, introduced by Sen. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry) and Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia),