NEW YORK: A proposal to make Diwali a federal holiday in the United States is back before Congress. Representative Grace Meng, a New York Democrat who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), has reintroduced the Diwali Day Act in the House of Representatives with 19 co-sponsors.

What the bill does

  • Makes Diwali a federal holiday; it would be the 12th federally recognised holiday in the US
  • Co-sponsors include Indian American lawmakers Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam and Shri Thanedar
  • Recognises the festival's significance for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists

"Diwali represents the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance," Meng said, calling federal recognition "long overdue". She also condemned what she called a "racist, anti-Hindu disruption" at a Diwali event in Seattle.

At the state level, Pennsylvania officially designated Diwali Day in 2024, and California added Diwali to its state holidays from January 1 this year. To become law, the bill must pass both the House and the Senate and be signed by the President.