As millions of people across the United States and around the world celebrated Diwali, Rep. Grace Meng has reintroduced legislation seeking to designate the Festival of Lights as a federal holiday, renewing efforts to give the celebration national recognition.
Meng, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), reintroduced the Diwali Day Act, which would make Diwali the 12th federally recognized holiday in the United States.
The legislation aims to recognize the cultural and religious significance of Diwali, also known as Deepavali, which is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, as well as people across South Asian, Southeast Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities.
Although the festival holds different meanings for different religious and cultural groups, it is widely associated with the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Celebrations typically involve prayers, family gatherings and community events.
“Diwali represents the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. At a time when anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian hate is on the rise, recognizing Diwali as a federal holiday sends a powerful message that Hindus, as well as Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, are valued members of our society,” said CAPAC Chair Meng.
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“Here in Queens, I see firsthand how meaningful Diwali is to so many families and 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 honors the rich cultural traditions of its people.”
Meng’s renewed push comes amid concerns over hate incidents targeting Hindu and South Asian communities in the United States. According to CAPAC, recent incidents include vandalism at Hindu places of worship, an attempted mass shooting during Navratri celebrations at a Hindu temple in Illinois, and a racist disruption of a Diwali celebration in Washington state.
CAPAC has called on federal authorities to take such incidents seriously and investigate acts of hate targeting religious and ethnic communities.
Under the proposed legislation, making Diwali a federal holiday would give Americans a day off to observe the festival and allow communities to celebrate without having to balance festivities with regular work schedules. It would also formally recognize the contributions and cultural traditions of communities that observe the festival.
The bill has received support from 19 members of Congress, including Indian American lawmakers Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam and Shri Thanedar.
Other co-sponsors include Nanette Barragán, Wesley Bell, André Carson, Judy Chu, Suzan DelBene, Josh Gottheimer, Timothy Kennedy, Stephen Lynch, Deborah Ross, Lateefah Simon, Tom Suozzi, Mark Takano, Rashida Tlaib and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
The legislation has also received endorsements from several community and advocacy organizations, including Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Asian American Federation, the Coalition of Hindus of North America, Hindus for Human Rights, Indian American Impact, the Indian Diaspora Council, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Sikh Coalition and the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans.
READ: California Assembly recognizes Diwali Day, expresses ‘Deepest Respect’ for Indian Americans (August 24, 2026)
Meng is also the author of the Lunar New Year Day Act, which seeks to establish Lunar New Year as a federally recognized holiday.
The reintroduction of the Diwali Day Act renews the effort to give one of the most widely observed festivals among South Asian communities formal recognition at the federal level.
The federal push comes as Diwali has gained formal recognition in several states. Pennsylvania became the first state to officially designate Diwali Day in 2024, followed by Connecticut, which passed legislation in June 2025 requiring an annual gubernatorial proclamation recognizing the festival. California became the third state to add Diwali to its list of state holidays under Assembly Bill 268, signed into law in October 2025 and effective Jan. 1, 2026.
If passed by Congress, the legislation would make Diwali the 12th federally recognized holiday in the United States. Supporters say the move would go beyond granting millions of Americans a day off, formally acknowledging the cultural traditions and contributions of communities that celebrate the festival.