Washington DC: US lawmakers, led by Congresswoman Grace Meng, have reintroduced legislation in the House of Representatives seeking to designate Diwali as a federal holiday.
The Diwali Day Act has received the support of 19 lawmakers, including Indian-origin representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar, Ro Khanna and Ami Bera.
Meng, who heads the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said in an official release, “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.”
The proposed legislation describes Diwali, also known as Deepavali or the Festival of Lights, as an important annual observance for several religious communities, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
The festival is also celebrated by billions of people across South Asian, Southeast Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities.
Meng noted that although the festival holds different significance for various religious, ethnic and cultural groups, it brings people together through reflection, prayer and gatherings with loved ones.
“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, 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 stated.
The caucus highlighted that Hindu and South Asian communities across the country are facing a concerning rise in hostility, intimidation and targeted violence.
“This includes vandalism at Hindu places of worship, an attempted mass shooting during Navratri festivities at a Hindu temple in Illinois, and the recent racist disruption of a Diwali celebration in Washington State. CAPAC has been sounding the alarm that these acts of hate must be taken seriously and investigated by federal authorities,” the caucus stated.
If enacted by Congress, the Bill would make Diwali the 12th federally recognised holiday in the United States.
Proponents of the legislation emphasised that declaring Diwali a federal holiday, along with an accompanying day off, would demonstrate the government’s recognition of the cultures and traditions of its citizens.
Meng has also authored the Lunar New Year Day Act, which seeks federal recognition for the Lunar New Year.
The proposed legislation has received endorsements from Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Asian American Federation, Coalition of Hindus of North America, Hindus for Human Rights, Hindu Temple Society of North America, Indian American Impact, Indian Diaspora Council, Indo-Caribbean Alliance, International Commission on Dalit Rights, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, The Sikh Cultural Society, The Sikh Coalition, South Asian Impact Foundation and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.
