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Michigan bills seek Diwali, Vaisakhi holidays
The bills seek to add Diwali and Vaisakhi to Michigan’s list of officially recognized state observances.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 22, Apr 2026
- 17:59 EDT
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Diwali/ Vaisakhi / File Photo
Michigan lawmakers have introduced bills in both chambers to recognize Diwali and Vaisakhi as official state holidays, with the measures currently awaiting consideration in committee.
In the Michigan House of Representatives, House Bill 5838, also introduced on April 21, seeks to designate Diwali–also known as Deepavali, or the Festival of Lights–as a state holiday. The bill was referred to the same committee and remains under initial review.
Also Read: California Assembly passes HR 100 recognizing Vaisakhi
The House measure, backed by more than two dozen Democratic lawmakers, defines Diwali as falling on the new moon day of the eighth lunar month in the Indic purnimanta lunisolar calendar and recognizes it as a holiday celebrated by Hindus and Jains.
State Rep. Sharon MacDonell, a sponsor of the House bill, said the legislation reflects increasing observance of the festival in the state.
Welcoming the introduction of bills in Michigan to recognize Diwali and Vaisakhi as state holidays. A meaningful step toward acknowledging the traditions and contributions of Hindu and Sikh communities. pic.twitter.com/qV9Od1vHcL
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) April 22, 2026
“I’m introducing a bill to recognize the Hindu holiday Diwali in Michigan,” MacDonell wrote in a public post. “A growing number of families in Southeast Michigan observe this holiday.”
She added that she also supports legislation recognizing other religious observances, including Vaisakhi, Lunar New Year, and the Muslim holidays Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, citing the state’s growing diversity.
In the Michigan Senate, Senate Bill 906, introduced on April 21, proposes designating April 13 and April 14 each year as Vaisakhi or Baisakhi. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Government Operations and remains at the introduction stage.
The legislation, sponsored by Sam Singh (D-28) along with eight Democratic co-sponsors, would formally recognize the dates as “a significant holy day for Sikhs and Hindus.”
The Hindu American Foundation welcomed the introduction of the bills, calling them “a meaningful step toward acknowledging the traditions and contributions of Hindu and Sikh communities.”
The proposals follow earlier legislative efforts in Michigan to recognize cultural and religious holidays such as Diwali, Vaisakhi, Eid, and Lunar New Year, reflecting ongoing attempts by lawmakers to formally acknowledge the state’s diverse population.
Michigan has seen steady growth in its Indian American population over the past decade, with concentrations in the Detroit metropolitan area, including Oakland and Wayne counties. Community organizations in the region have expanded public Diwali and Vaisakhi celebrations, drawing participation from elected officials and local institutions.
The measures come as several U.S. states and school districts have moved in recent years to recognize Diwali as a public or school holiday, particularly in states with growing South Asian populations such as New York and New Jersey. At the federal level, lawmakers have also periodically introduced resolutions seeking nationwide recognition of Diwali, though no federal holiday designation has been enacted.
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