The Diwali Day Act is backed by 19 US lawmakers, including Indian-origin representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar, Ro Khanna and Ami Bera.The Diwali Day Act is backed by 19 lawmakers, including Indian-origin representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar, Ro Khanna and Ami Bera. A group of US lawmakers led by Grace Meng has reintroduced a Bill in the House of Representatives to recognise Diwali as a federal holiday, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The Diwali Day Act is backed by 19 lawmakers, including Indian-origin representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar, Ro Khanna and Ami Bera.Meng, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said in a statement: "My Diwali Day Act will help educate Americans about the importance of this day, and I will continue working to create a more inclusive nation that honours the rich cultural traditions of its people."The draft legislation describes Diwali, also known as Deepavali or the Festival of Lights, as one of the most important festivals of the year for several religious groups, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.

It is also observed by billions of people in South Asian, Southeast Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities. Meng said Diwali holds different meanings for various religious, ethnic and cultural groups, but unites those who observe it through reflection, prayer and gatherings with loved ones."Diwali represents the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.

At a time when anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian hate is on the rise, recognising Diwali as a federal holiday sends a powerful message that Hindus, as well as Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, are valued members of our society," she said. Hindu and South Asian communities across the US are facing an alarming rise in hate, intimidation and targeted violence, the caucus said in a statement cited by Press Trust of India."This includes vandalism at Hindu places of worship, an attempted mass shooting during Navratri festivities at a Hindu temple in Illinois, and the recent racist disruption of a Diwali celebration in Washington State.

CAPAC has been sounding the alarm that these acts of hate must be taken seriously and investigated by federal authorities," it said.If passed by Congress, the Bill would make Diwali the 12th federally recognised holiday in the United States. Supporters said a federal holiday and the day off it would provide would show that the government values the cultures and traditions of its citizens.Meng is also the author of the Lunar New Year Day Act, which seeks to establish Lunar New Year as a federally recognised holiday.The Diwali Day Act has been endorsed by Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Asian American Federation, Coalition of Hindus of North America, Hindus for Human Rights, Hindu Temple Society of North America, Indian American Impact, Indian Diaspora Council, Indo-Caribbean Alliance, International Commission on Dalit Rights, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, The Sikh Cultural Society, The Sikh Coalition, South Asian Impact Foundation and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.The proposed law seeks to recognise Diwali as a US federal holiday while highlighting its importance to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and other communities that celebrate the Festival of Lights.With PTI Inputs- Ends