US Lawmaker Moves Bill To Make Diwali Federal Holiday, Flags Rising Anti-Hindu Hate

US Congresswoman Grace Meng has introduced legislation to make Diwali a federal holiday, arguing that the recognition is particularly important as Hindu and South Asian communities face increasing hate, intimidation and targeted violence across the United States.

Meng introduced the Diwali Day Act on Monday, saying the festival's recognition would send a message that Hindus and other religious communities are valued members of American society.

"Diwali represents the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance," Meng said. She added that recognising the festival as a federal holiday would affirm the place of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists in the country.

Meng, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said the proposed legislation was long overdue. The bill has been co-sponsored by 19 lawmakers, including Representatives Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Rashida Tlaib.

The legislation comes amid concerns over vandalism at Hindu places of worship, threats against religious gatherings and targeted violence. Meng specifically cited three incidents: vandalism at Hindu temples, an attempted mass shooting at a temple in Aurora, Illinois, and the recent disruption of a Diwali celebration in Washington State.

The Illinois incident involved a 19-year-old suspect, Alexandros Paporakis, who was arrested on October 11 over an alleged plan to carry out a mass shooting targeting a Hindu place of worship. Police reportedly found a rifle, ammunition, body armour and material reflecting white supremacist views. The FBI assisted with the investigation.

"My Diwali Day Act would make this joyous holiday a federal holiday — recognition that is long overdue," Meng said, condemning the racist disruption of the Seattle-area celebration.

She stressed that everyone should be able to celebrate their religious and cultural traditions safely and freely, urging communities to stand together against bigotry.

The scale of online hostility is also reflected in a September 2026 study by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH). It found that monthly anti-South Asian hate posts on X increased by 240 per cent between January 2024 and June 2026, rising from 12,904 to 43,843 posts.

Researchers identified more than 542,000 hateful posts between January 2025 and June 2026. Around 45 per cent of the posts portrayed South Asians as invaders, job thieves or a demographic threat.

If passed, the Diwali Day Act would make the festival the 12th federal holiday in the United States, giving federal employees a day off and formally recognising the traditions of millions of Americans. The proposal must advance through Congress before it can become law. Meng has also championed legislation seeking federal recognition for Lunar New Year.