Meng reintroduces federal Diwali holiday bill
The bill would make the Festival of Lights the 12th federal holiday, responding to a surge in anti-South Asian hate incidents.
By Nia Foster ·
Rep. Grace Meng of New York reintroduced legislation on Monday to designate Diwali as a federal holiday. The move came one day after the primary celebration of the 2026 festival on Sunday.
The bill, known as the Diwali Day Act, currently has 19 co-sponsors in Congress. If enacted, it would make Diwali the 12th federally recognized holiday in the United States. Meng, the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, stated the holiday would provide a day off for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.
Meng cited a sharp increase in anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian hate as a primary reason for the reintroduction. She noted that communities face intimidation and targeted violence, including vandalism at places of worship. A specific incident involved an attempted mass shooting at Navratri festivities at the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple in Aurora, Illinois, in October.
Alexandros Paporakis, a 19-year-old college student, is charged with felony counts of making a terrorist threat and unlawful possession of a rifle. Reports indicate his attempt to carry out the shooting was stopped when his gun jammed.
Data from Santa Clara University’s Center for the Study of Organized Hate supports the trend. The center found that anti-South Asian hate speech on the platform X was 240% higher between January 2025 and June 2026 compared to January 2024.
Meng said the legislation aims to educate Americans about the holiday and signal that the government values these cultures. She previously introduced similar legislation in 2023, which was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability but did not advance further. The current bill is endorsed by groups including Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Asian American Federation, and the Coalition of Hindus of North America.
Meng also authorized a separate Lunar New Year Day Act. She said creating these holidays helps combat rising hate by building a more inclusive nation that honors diverse traditions.
