Diwali Day Act 2026: US Lawmakers Push for Federal Holiday Status

A group of US lawmakers, led by Rep Grace Meng, have re-introduced the Diwali Day Act in the House of Representatives on 9 November 2026. The act proposes to recognise Diwali (also known as Deepavali or Festival of Lights) as a Federal Holiday in the United States. This bill has been co-sponsored by 19 Congress members including 5 Indian-origin lawmakers. If passed, Diwali would be recognised as the 12th Federal Holiday in the United States.

What Is the Diwali Day Act is a bill introduced by US Rep Grace Meng.

It proposes to recognise Diwali as an additional Federal Holiday by amending Section 6103(a) of Title 5 of the United States Code.

This act aims to formally recognise Diwali as a Federal Holiday. It recognises the importance of Diwali in relation to culture and religion in the United States. If passed, Diwali would become the 12th Federal Holiday.

Who Introduced the Bill?

The bill was re-introduced by Grace Meng, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives from New York. She is the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).

The bill has been co-sponsored by 19 Congress Members including,

• Raja Krishnamoorthi
• Suhas Subramanyam
• Shri Thanedar
• Ro Khanna
• Ami Bera

Other co-sponsors include Judy Chu, Nanette Barragán, André Carson, Josh Gottheimer and Rashida Tlaib.

Why Do Lawmakers Want Diwali to Be Recognised as a Federal Holiday?

Diwali is an important festival for many religious and cultural communities, including Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities. It also holds great importance for the South Asian, Southeast Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities.

Grace Meng says it would help raise awareness for Americans. She explains that it would recognise the cultural traditions of those who celebrate Diwali.

The act comes after concerns were raised by the CAPAC regarding anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian hate, threats and targeted violence within the United States. Meng explains that recognising Diwali would show those in these communities are valued members of society.

What Would Happen If the Bill Was Passed?

There are currently 11 federal holidays in the United States. They are listed in Section 6103(a) of Title 5 of the United States Code.

• If the Diwali Day Act was passed:
• It would be recognised as a statutory Federal Holiday.
• It would become the 12th Federal Holiday.
• Federal employees would have the day off.
• It would formally recognise the festival and those who celebrate it.

This act does NOT mean that Diwali is a Federal Holiday. It would only become a Federal Holiday if the appropriate law making process was carried out.

How Does a Bill Become a Federal Law in the United States?

There are two chambers in Congress. The House of Representatives and the Senate. Generally bills need to be passed by both chambers.

The President can either sign the bill or veto it. If it has been passed by both chambers then it will become law.

The Diwali Day Act has been re-introduced by the House of Representatives. However, as of 10 November 2026 it is still a proposal.

List of Federal Holidays in the United States

There are 11 federal holidays in the United States. They are listed in Section 6103(a) of Title 5 of the United States Code:

No.	Federal Holiday	Date/Observance
1	New Year’s Day	1 January
2	Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.	Third Monday in January
3	Washington’s Birthday	Third Monday in February
4	Memorial Day	Last Monday in May
5	Juneteenth National Independence Day	19 June
6	Independence Day	4 July
7	Labor Day	First Monday in September
8	Columbus Day	Second Monday in October
9	Veterans Day	11 November
10	Thanksgiving Day	Fourth Thursday in November
11	Christmas Day	25 December