A new petition on Change.org is calling for Diwali to be declared an official public holiday in Sydney, citing the city’s growing Hindu population and the festival’s global recognition.
The petition highlights that Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is already a public holiday in countries such as Fiji, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and, most recently, New York in the United States.
Supporters argue that with over 208,000 Hindus in New South Wales and more than 684,000 across Australia, the time has come to formally recognise Diwali as a public holiday. According to the 2021 Census, Hinduism is Australia’s third-largest religion, comprising 2.7% of the population. This marks a 55.3% increase since 2016, making it the fastest-growing major religion in the country.
Last year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated Diwali at Sydney’s Murugan Temple, noting that “Deepavali celebrates the victory of light over darkness.”
Similarly, NSW Premier Chris Minns hosted the state’s Diwali celebrations at the Museum of Contemporary Art, while Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan held a Diwali dinner.
Describing Hindus as one of the “most peaceful, law-abiding and highest tax-paying communities,” the petition urges Australian leaders to introduce Diwali as a public holiday in major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
Diwali, which means “row of lights” in Sanskrit, celebrates the triumph of good over evil and honours Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth. Homes and temples are decorated with lamps and candles, symbolically inviting prosperity and blessings.
The five-day celebration, observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, also includes family gatherings, gift exchanges and community festivities.
Meanwhile, across the Pacific, California is moving closer to designating Diwali as an official state holiday. Last week, the state legislature passed Assembly Bill 268, which would add Diwali to California’s list of 11 recognised public holidays. If signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom before 12 October, the bill would allow schools and state employees to observe the festival.
California has the nation’s largest Indian population, and leaders say the move would help future generations feel included and represented. Pennsylvania became the first U.S. state to designate Diwali as an official holiday in 2024, followed by Connecticut earlier this year. New York City schools also close for Diwali, a change introduced in 2023.
Advocates in Australia hope Sydney will now follow suit, with one community leader noting: “Recognising Diwali as a public holiday gives us the chance to celebrate openly without juggling work or school, while also acknowledging the contribution of one of Australia’s fastest-growing communities.”
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