The Festival of Lights might be getting the biggest upgrade in American holiday history. US lawmakers just reintroduced the Diwali Day Act in the House of Representatives, and this time, 19 Congress members are backing the push to make Diwali a federal holiday. 

What Is the Diwali Day Act? 

Grace Meng reintroduced the Diwali Day Act on November 9, 2026, one day after the Festival of Lights lit up homes, temples, and communities across America. The bill, which Meng has been championing as chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, would officially place Diwali, also known as Deepavali, on the list of federally recognized US public holidays.

This bill has been around. It showed up first as H.R. 5904 in the 117th Congress, came back again as H.R. 3336 in the 118th Congress, and now it’s making its third appearance. Every time it returns, the support base gets bigger, the conversation gets louder. 

Which US Lawmakers Support the Diwali Day Act?

The Diwali Day Act has 19 co-sponsors in the House, including five Indian-origin lawmakers:

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

All five are part of the 119th US Congress and represent the growing influence of the Indian-American community in American governance.

Why Diwali as a Federal Holiday?

The bill recognizes Diwali as one of the most important celebrations for multiple religious communities, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, as well as billions across South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Indo-Caribbean communities worldwide.

What Would Change if the Diwali Day Act Passes?

If the Diwali Day Act clears Congress and gets signed into law, Diwali would become the 12th federally recognized holiday in the United States. 

Right now, there are 11 federal holidays:

• New Year’s Day (January 1)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Third Monday in January)
• Washington’s Birthday (Third Monday in February)
• Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
• Juneteenth (June 19)
• Independence Day (July 4)
• Labor Day (First Monday in September)
• Columbus Day (Second Monday in October)
• Veterans Day (November 11)
• Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)
• Christmas Day (December 25)

Worth noting, Christmas is currently the only religious holiday on that federal list. Adding Diwali would be a pretty big deal for religious diversity in American public life. 

States Already Leading the Way

Some states aren’t waiting around for the feds. Pennsylvania became the first state to officially adopt Diwali as a state holiday back in 2024. Connecticut followed, and California jumped on board as the third state to make it official. That state-level momentum is a strong signal that a federal Diwali holiday has real legs. 

Also Read: 5-Day USA Itinerary from India

South Asian Community in the US by the Numbers 

The South Asian American population is growing fast, and the numbers back up the cultural significance: 

• Roughly 6.5 million South Asian Americans live in the US, making up about 1.95% of the total population 
• About 3.6 million Hindus call America home, roughly 1% of the adult population 
• An estimated 280,000 to 500,000 Sikh Americans are part of the community 
• Hindu Americans have the highest rates of educational attainment and household income among all religious communities in the country
• That’s a sizable, engaged community, and the Diwali federal holiday push reflects its growing presence. 

The Diwali Day Act now needs to work its way through the House, get a vote, pass the Senate, and land on the President’s desk. It still needs approval from Congress before it can become law. For now, the proposal has brought fresh attention to Diwali and its importance to Indian families living in the US.

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