US lawmakers, led by Congresswoman Grace Meng, on Monday reintroduced a bill seeking to recognise Diwali as a federal holiday, three years after it was first proposed in 2023.
If passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, Diwali would become the 12th federally recognised holiday in the United States . “Diwali represents the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. This is not the first time Meng has pushed for federal recognition of Diwali. The designation would provide federal employees with a day off and formally recognise the festival’s importance to millions of Americans.
She introduced an earlier version of the Diwali Day Act in the US House of Representatives on May 15, 2023, during the 118th Congress under the rule of Joe Biden .
Meng, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said the legislation would help Americans understand the festival’s significance and recognise the cultural traditions of different communities. “My Diwali Day Act will help educate Americans about the importance of this day, and I will continue working to create a more inclusive nation that honours the rich cultural traditions of its people,” she said in a statement. Making Diwali a federal holiday would also send a message of recognition to communities that celebrate the festival, Meng said. At a time when anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian hate is on the rise, recognising Diwali as a federal holiday sends a powerful message that Hindus, as well as Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, are valued members of our society,” she said. The caucus said such incidents must be taken seriously and investigated by federal authorities.
