US Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Make Diwali Federal Holiday
· World · Hindustan Times, The Hindu
US lawmakers led by Congresswoman Grace Meng have reintroduced the Diwali Day Act to designate Diwali as a federal holiday in the United States. The legislation is backed by 19 co-sponsors, including Indian-origin lawmakers Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar, and Ro Khanna. Meng stated that the move would educate Americans about the festival and recognise cultural traditions while countering anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian sentiment. An earlier version of the bill was introduced on May 15, 2023, but failed to progress beyond the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. If passed by Congress and signed by the President, the measure would amend Title 5 of the US Code to add Diwali Day to the list of federally recognised holidays.
Why it matters
Federal recognition of Diwali would validate the cultural contributions of millions of South Asians in the US and provide official acknowledgment to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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