American lawmaker Graced Meng on Friday introduced a bill in the US Congress to declare Diwali a federal holiday. “Diwali is one of the most important days of the year for billions of people across the globe, and for countless families and communities in Queens, New York, and the United States,” Congresswoman Meng said after introducing the bill in the House of Representatives.

The Diwali Day Act, when passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, would make it the 12th federally recognised holiday in the United States.