FIA’s renowned India Day Parade in NYC featured dozens of floats, marching bands, celebrities and dignitaries

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Large crowds gathered on the Madison Avenue parade route for the now renowned India Day Parade in its 42^nd year, organized by the Federation of Indian Associations-NYNJCT, to get a glimpse of famous Bollywood actors Sonakshi Sinha, Pankaj Tripathi and Zaheer Iqbal as well numerous floats, marching bands and dignitaries as they passed by.

Also present in the Parade were India’s Consul General in New York Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, the Deputy Consul General Varun Jeph, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Manoj Tiwari, and a number of elected officials from around the tristate area.

The parade marched down Madison Avenue from East 38th Street to East 27th Street.

Sinha was the grand marshal, and Tripathi and Tiwari were the guests of honor.

According to FIA, the parade featured more than 40 floats, over 50 marching groups and over 30 marching bands, representing various states of India as well as its vibrant cultures and faiths, ANI reported.

Ankur Vaidya, Chairman of the Federation of Indian Associations, told ANI the parade represents the country’s diversity and features floats from various communities in India, one of them being the Ram Temple replica which is meant to instill the values of peace for all.

In addition to the parade, there was also a festival with a stage for cultural performances and over 45 booths and food vendors. And the National Museum of the American Indian was the venue for the speeches and other activities.

A carnival float featuring Ram Temple was also part of the parade, and caused some controversy. One of the Muslim organizations withdrew from the Parade in protest against the inclusion of the Ram Temple float because of the history behind it.

However, people of all faiths attended the Parade.

“The Parade was about our culture – everything Indian – so Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, all had the right of a float, and all attended. In fact, this year’s Parade was much bigger and better than last year or the year before that,” said Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, who has been the Grand Sponsor of the FIA flagship event over 30 years.

“I have remained a Grand Sponsor because I believe this is the way to show our heritage and culture to Mainstream America, and to our 2^nd generation – how India attained independence and the freedom fighters who fought for it,” Dr. Parikh told Desi Talk.

Sonakshi Sinha recalled how her father, the famous Bollywood actor Shatrughna Sinha had been headlining the Parade many years ago. However, witnessing it in person, was for her very emotional as it showed how strong the bonds were of the diaspora with the Homeland.

Consul General Pradhan echoed the views expressed by others, saying he had only heard about how big this Parade was but now he witnessed how great it was, and he was very moved.

Pankaj Tripathi said it was the first visit to the US for him, his wife and daughter and they were blown away by the diversity of the Parade and the emotional effect it had on them.

Patriotic songs rang out as the Parade proceeded on the route, and people waved the Indian tricolor flags. Dhols sounded and dancing on the streets by troupes of Parade participants was ubiquitous.

Speaking to ANI, Swami Avdheshanand Guri Ji Maharaj, who was in the Ram Temple float said, “I have come to New York to participate in the India Day Parade at the invitation of the Indian-American community. People are enthusiastic as they participate in the India Day Parade. Different tableaus featuring India’s divine culture, our Kalajayi, Mrityunjaya, and Sanatan culture, and its values are seen here. All tableaus are very wonderful here.”

He went on to say, “Ram Mandir’s float showcases that India’s culture considers the whole world as a family. It sees only one God in all the human beings. And our culture says that only one Brahma is all-encompassing….We Indians give the message of equality. We Indians consider the whole world as a family.”

The New York Police Department and the Mayor have supported the FIA Parade for the last 20 years, Vaidya noted.