San Francisco: California makes Diwali an official statewide holiday

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation making Diwali an official statewide holiday, the third state in the nation to do so, allowing public school students excused absences and state employees paid leave on the Festival of Lights, effective January 1. The bill was championed by South Asian assemblymembers and backed by Hindu American organizations that called it a meaningful step toward inclusion. Closer to home, an Indian coffee shop in San Francisco's Lower Nob Hill is earning strong reviews for its South Asian-inspired drinks built on chicory, jaggery, and masala flavors.

🗳️ California enshrines Diwali as official state holiday

California has become the third US state to officially recognize Diwali as a statewide holiday, following Pennsylvania in 2024 and Connecticut earlier in 2025. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law, with the legislation set to take effect on January 1. Under the new law, public schools and community colleges are authorized to close on Diwali, state employees may elect to take the day off with pay, and public school students will receive an excused absence to celebrate the festival. The law recognizes that Diwali is observed not only by Hindus but also by Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists. The bill was coauthored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, a Democrat representing San Jose, together with Assemblymember Darshana Patel from San Diego. Kalra said he grew up celebrating Diwali with family but that the experience felt isolated from the rest of his public life. He described the new law as a significant moment that allows South Asian children to celebrate and share the festival more openly with others. A 2025 Pew survey cited in coverage places roughly 960,000 of the nation's 4.9 million Indian Americans in California, representing about 20 percent of the national total, with San Jose in Silicon Valley home to a particularly sizable Indian American population. Hindu American organizations including the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus in North America advocated for the legislation. The Foundation's managing director Samir Kalra said the provisions allowing students to take the day off without repercussion and state employees to take paid leave are important steps toward making Diwali truly accessible to those who celebrate it. Diwali, which falls on October 20, is derived from the word Deepavali, meaning a row of lights. [4]

🍛 Le Mil's brings Indian coffee culture to Lower Nob Hill

Le Mil's, situated at 1330 Polk Street in San Francisco's Lower Nob Hill, has earned recognition as one of the city's rare Indian coffee shops, distinguishing itself not by novelty alone but by the quality and originality of its drinks. Standard espresso drinks such as cortados and cappuccinos are on offer, but The Infatuation's review highlighted the cafe's signature South Asian-inspired beverages as the main draw. The SoFi is a chicory-forward coffee drink infused with masala jaggery syrup, while the Almost Latte also features chicory and jaggery syrup alongside a slightly bitter dandelion root extract, with notably lower caffeine content than a standard coffee. Both specialty drinks are served with a Parle-G biscuit, the classic Indian snack cookie that the reviewer recommended dunking at least once before eating. On the food side, Le Mil's stocks pastries from Saltwater Bakeshop alongside a curated selection of Indian pastries. Among the Indian pastry options, the rose pistachio cake was highlighted as a standout recommendation. For guests who cannot find a seat on the ground floor, the cafe features additional seating and standing room in a lofted upstairs space, accommodating what appears to be a busy stream of visitors. The Infatuation review, published in August 2026, described Le Mil's as worthy of a visit for anyone seeking a great cup of Indian coffee in San Francisco, noting that the draw is ultimately the quality of the coffee itself. [3]

Sources: [4] ABC7 Bay Area · [3] The Infatuation