A group of 19 members of the U.S. House of Representatives is backing legislation to make Diwali a federal holiday, including five Indian American lawmakers who joined the effort led by Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y.

Meng, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reintroduced the Diwali Day Act on November 9. The legislation would officially recognize Diwali as a federal holiday, making it the 12th federally recognized holiday in the United States.

The five Indian American lawmakers supporting the bill are Reps. Ami Bera of California, Ro Khanna of California, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia, and Shri Thanedar of Michigan.

The remaining 14 co-sponsors are Reps. Nanette Barragán of California, Wesley Bell of Missouri, André Carson of Indiana, Judy Chu of California, Suzan DelBene of Washington, Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Timothy Kennedy of New York, Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, Deborah Ross of North Carolina, Lateefah Simon of California, Tom Suozzi of New York, Mark Takano of California, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey.

Diwali, also known as Deepavali or the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, as well as communities throughout South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Indo-Caribbean. Although its religious significance varies among those who observe it, the festival is commonly associated with the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Celebrations often include prayers, lighting lamps, family gatherings and community events.

Under the proposed legislation, Diwali would be added to the federal government's official holiday calendar. Federal offices would generally close for the observance, and federal employees would receive a day off. Private businesses and state governments would not automatically be required to close.

Meng said federal recognition would acknowledge the importance of the celebration to millions of Americans and help educate the broader public about the traditions of communities that observe it. She also cited concerns about hostility and targeted incidents involving Hindu and South Asian communities, including vandalism at Hindu temples and the disruption of a Diwali celebration in Washington state.

The legislation has also received endorsements from numerous organizations, including the Coalition of Hindus of North America, Hindu Temple Society of North America, Indian American Impact, Sikh Coalition and Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

The bill must still pass the House and Senate before it can be signed into law by President Donald Trump. If approved, Diwali would become the nation's 12th federal holiday. Meng has also introduced separate legislation seeking federal recognition for Lunar New Year.