Washington, November 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US Congresswoman Grace Meng has reintroduced legislation seeking to designate Diwali as a federal holiday, saying official recognition of the Festival of Lights would affirm the importance of Hindu and other South Asian communities in American society.
The proposed Diwali Day Act would amend Section 6103(a) of Title 5 of the US Code to include Diwali in the list of legal public holidays. According to Meng’s office, the move would make it the 12th federal holiday in the United States.
Meng, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said the legislation was particularly important amid concerns over anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian hostility.
“Diwali represents the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance,” she said, adding that recognising the festival would send a message that Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists are valued members of American society.
The bill has 19 congressional co-sponsors, 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.
CAPAC cited incidents including vandalism at Hindu places of worship, an alleged mass-shooting plot targeting a Hindu gathering in Illinois and the disruption of a Diwali celebration in Washington state as reasons for greater attention to community safety. The caucus called for such incidents to be taken seriously and investigated by federal authorities.
Meng said the proposed holiday would also help educate Americans about Diwali and provide communities greater opportunities to celebrate their cultural traditions. Her office said the legislation had received endorsements from 17 civil rights, religious and community organisations.
Meng has also separately proposed legislation to make Lunar New Year a federal holiday.
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