US Congresswoman Graced Meng has introduced a bill to declare Diwali a federal holiday in the United States. The Diwali Day Act, if passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, would make the festival of lights the 12th federally recognised holiday in the country. Meng said that establishing a federal holiday for Diwali would allow families and friends to celebrate together and demonstrate that the government values the diverse cultural makeup of the nation. The move has been welcomed by different communities across the country, with some officials saying it highlights a cultural tradition that some Americans do not experience regularly.
As reported in The Indian Express, a prominent American lawmaker, Congresswoman Graced Meng, has introduced a bill in the US Congress to declare Diwali, the festival of lights, a federal holiday. This move has been welcomed by different communities from across the country.
During a virtual news conference, Congresswoman Meng stated that Diwali is one of the most important days of the year for billions of people across the globe. She also emphasized that establishing a federal holiday for Diwali would allow families and friends to celebrate together and demonstrate that the government values the diverse cultural makeup of the nation.
The Diwali Day Act, when passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President, would make the festival of lights the 12th federally recognized holiday in the United States. Congresswoman Meng’s bill is one step toward educating all Americans on the importance of this day and celebrating the full face of American diversity.
New York Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar welcomed the move, stating that Congresswoman Meng’s historic legislation to make Diwali a federal holiday shows that Diwali is an American holiday. She further added that to the over 4 million Americans who celebrate Diwali, their government sees them and hears them.
New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney applauded Congresswoman Meng for her continued work to increase the visibility of the Asian-American community. He also emphasized that naming Diwali a federal holiday not only honors those who observe but highlights a cultural tradition some Americans do not experience regularly.
New York City Councilman Shekar Krishnan, who is the first Indian American ever elected to NYC government, stated that Diwali is a special holiday for so many South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities. He expressed his pride in supporting Congresswoman Meng’s bill.
When all is said and done, Congresswoman Meng’s bill to make Diwali a federal holiday is a significant step toward recognizing and celebrating the cultural diversity of the United States. This move has been welcomed by different communities from across the country, and it is hoped that the Congress and the President will pass the Diwali Day Act into law.
