More than a billion people around the world celebrate Diwali – one of the most important festivals in South Asian culture. For the first time, it is recognized as a state holiday in Pennsylvania.

This makes the occasion even more special for Suhag Shukla, whose parents immigrated to the United States from India. She is continuing the tradition of celebrating Diwali with a grand open house at her home, where she is expected to welcome more than 100 friends and family on Friday.

“We wanted to bring an ode to the way Diwali is celebrated in India to Philadelphia,” said Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation.

Diwali is also known as the “Festival of Lights”. It is celebrated worldwide by both the Hindu faith and Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs.

“It celebrates the victory of good over evil, of light over darkness,” Shukla said of the meaning of the holiday.

Earlier this month, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the bipartisan bill, making Pennsylvania the first in the country to declare Diwali a state holiday.

“It signals to our community that like every other immigrant before us, we are an integral part of the American fabric,” Shukla said.

Our 6abc data team found that there are more than 166,000 Indian Americans in Pennsylvania. If we include all South Asian populations, that number rises to almost 210,000.

The widely celebrated holiday of Diwali usually falls in October or November.

Shukla says the Diwali message of 'light' is much needed this year.

“I think the message of Diwali is so important in these polarized times,” she said, adding that everyone is welcome at Diwali celebrations.

“Diwali is truly a time to spread light and each of us has light within us,” she said.

The Hindu American Foundation has created a toolkit that provides information about Diwali. For more information, visit: www.hinduamerican.org/diwali