US Lawmakers Reintroduce Diwali Day Act to Make Diwali a Federal Holiday

US Lawmakers Reintroduce Diwali Day Act to Make Diwali a Federal Holiday

Introduction

• Bill Reintroduced: A group of U.S. lawmakers has again introduced the Diwali Day Act in the House of Representatives. The main aim of this bill is to make Diwali an official federal holiday in the United States.
• Fresh Announcement: The fresh move was announced on November 9, 2026, by Congresswoman Grace Meng, who is the Chairperson of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).
• Main Aim: The proposed law aims to recognise the religious and cultural importance of Diwali and give people celebrating the festival an official holiday.
• 12th Holiday: If the bill is passed, Diwali will become the 12th federal holiday in the United States.

Diwali Day Act

• Main Purpose: The bill aims to add Diwali, also known as Deepavali, to the list of federal holidays in the United States.
• Earlier Attempt: A similar bill was introduced in 2023 under the name H.R. 3336. However, it could not move forward after reaching the committee stage.
• Fresh Support: The 2026 bill has received support from 19 members of Congress. These lawmakers belong to different backgrounds and communities.
• Legal Change: The bill aims to make a change to Section 6103(a) of Title 5 of the U.S. Code. This section contains the list of official federal holidays in the country.

Grace Meng’s Role

• Main Leader: Grace Meng, a Democratic Congresswoman from Queens, New York, is leading the effort to make Diwali a federal holiday.
• CAPAC Chairperson: She is the Chairperson of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which works to raise issues and concerns related to Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
• Official Statement: Grace Meng said that Diwali represents the victory of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
• Inclusive Society: She explained that making Diwali a federal holiday would show that Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists are important and respected members of American society.
• Cultural Recognition: She also said that the proposed law would help more Americans learn about Diwali and understand the different cultural traditions followed by various communities.

Indian-Origin Support

• 19 Co-Sponsors: The proposed bill has received support from 19 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Indian-Origin Leaders: Five Indian-origin lawmakers supporting the bill are Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar and Ro Khanna.
• Other Supporters: Other lawmakers supporting the bill include Nanette Barragán, Wesley Bell, Judy Chu, Josh Gottheimer, Timothy Kennedy and Rashida Tlaib.
• Political Support: The support of lawmakers from different backgrounds shows that more people are coming forward to recognise the festivals and traditions of different communities living in the United States.

Religious Importance

• Festival of Lights: Diwali is also known as Deepavali or the Festival of Lights. It represents the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
• Religious Communities: The festival is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. However, the religious importance of Diwali is different for each of these communities.
• Cultural Importance: Diwali is widely celebrated by people from South Asian, Southeast Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities.
• Celebrations: People celebrate Diwali by offering prayers, lighting lamps, meeting family members, exchanging gifts and enjoying special meals.
• Common Message: The festival spreads the message of peace, hope and knowledge. It reminds people that good always wins over evil.

Rising Hate Crimes

• Growing Concerns: CAPAC has raised concerns about the increasing number of incidents involving hatred against Hindus and South Asians in the United States. These include threats, attacks and other acts of violence.
• Temple Vandalism: There have been incidents in which Hindu temples and places of worship have been damaged in different parts of the country.
• Navratri Incident: The caucus also mentioned an incident involving an attempt to carry out a mass shooting during Navratri celebrations at a Hindu temple in Illinois.
• Diwali Disruption: A recent Diwali celebration in Washington State was also reportedly disturbed by racist behaviour.
• Government Action: Grace Meng said that making Diwali a federal holiday would send a strong message of respect and equality. CAPAC has also asked the authorities to take such incidents seriously and investigate them properly.

Federal Holiday Benefits

• Official Recognition: If the bill becomes law, Diwali will be added to the official list of federal holidays in the United States.
• Day Off: Federal government employees will get a holiday on Diwali. This will allow them to celebrate the festival and spend time with their families.
• Cultural Respect: It will show respect for the traditions and culture of Indian and other South Asian communities living in America.
• Greater Awareness: Official recognition of Diwali will help people from different backgrounds learn about the festival and understand its importance.
• Existing Recognition: Some U.S. states have already taken steps to recognise Diwali as a state holiday. Pennsylvania, Connecticut and California have taken steps towards giving the festival official recognition.

Current Status

• Committee Stage: The reintroduced bill has been sent to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability for further consideration.
• Approval Required: The bill must pass through the required steps in Congress and receive the President’s approval before it can become a law.
• Not Yet a Holiday: As of November 10, 2026, Diwali has not yet become an official federal holiday in the United States. The bill is still under consideration.
• Another Initiative: Grace Meng has also supported the Lunar New Year Day Act, which aims to make Lunar New Year an official federal holiday in the United States.

Important Questions

1. Who reintroduced the Diwali Day Act in the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2026?
2. How many U.S. lawmakers have supported the Diwali Day Act, and who are the five Indian-origin lawmakers supporting it?
3. Which section of the U.S. Code does the Diwali Day Act aim to change?
4. What incidents of hatred against Hindus and South Asians were mentioned by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus?
5. What benefits will people celebrating Diwali receive if the festival becomes an official federal holiday in the United States?

Conclusion

The reintroduction of the Diwali Day Act in 2026 is an important step towards giving respect and recognition to the culture and traditions of Indian and other South Asian communities living in the United States. If the bill is passed, federal government employees will get a holiday on Diwali and will be able to celebrate the festival with their families. It will also help people from different communities learn more about Diwali and its importance. However, the bill still needs to pass through Congress and receive the President’s approval before Diwali can become an official federal holiday.