India Independence Day Parade in New York City 2009
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India Independence Day Parade in New York City 2009
Other
events in August 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
India Independence Day Parade Index India Day Parade 2007 India Day Parade 2008 India Day Parade 2009 Photos 1 2
North Indian Actress and Grand Marshall Shilpa Shetty lead a lackluster FIA parade, termed "India Day Parade" in Manhattan, that was slated to begin at 12 noon, but ended up starting nearly an hour late. As usual, the "VIP"s of the various associations turned the day into their own tamasha* day, pushing and shoving Shilpa Shetty and others - both on and off the stage.
(*In colloquial Hindi, the term tamasha is used to refer to a commotion, or any activity or display with bustle and excitement, sometimes ironically in the sense of "a tempest in a teacup.")

Year after year, not only Indians from all over New York, New Jersey and as far as Connecticut and Pennsylvania, but New Yorkers of other ethnicities as well come to take part in the India Day Parade. Most Indians who go to midtown Manhattan to see either the Masala Actresses (When will we see a real Indian Hero as the Grand Marshall?) or to genuinely support their country, end up witnessing the show put on by the sash-clad "officials" who somehow get themselves elected as the Presidents and Secretaries of the various Indian Organizations and start "representing" all the Indians in USA. The floats included in the parade were mostly plain advertisements, with a bunch of youngsters horsing around in them. The parade was poorly managed with many of the organizers, who - unlike in other parades in the city - start acting as law enforcement - only to create headaches for the real NYPD and confusion for the average Indian families who come to partake in the once a year celebration.

The Indian Gay and Lesbian community, including the South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association (SALGA) was again shunned by the FIA and were refused a place to march in the India Day Parade. Even though the Delhi High Court recently lifted the age-old legal ban on homosexuality, the self-appointed guardians of Indian morality in America, the FIA, might have thought it best not to include the group in a family-oriented affair. "Preserving Indian culture" is important too, right?!

India Day Parade News Release
Shilpa Shetty would be leading as a Grand Marshal at 29th India Day Parade in New York to celebrate India's 62nd Independence Day on 16th August. Suzanne, from the Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" and singer Aishwarya of "Chhote Ustaad" fame will also attend.
Organised by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), the parade will take place at 12 noon from 41st Street to 28th Street on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York City, ending at 3pm after which the festivals and floats begin. Last year, the march past about sixty thousand people on 23rd street. Several dignitaries including New York Governor David Paterson, Indian Ambassdor Meera Shankar, Consul General of India in New York Prabhu Dayal, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are expected to attend.
There will be more than 60 vendors selling Indian food, arts and artifacts. For more information on the parade, visit the FIA Web site at www.fianynjct.org.

In 2007, it was Priyanka Chopra , who had the honour of leading the parade while Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams was the Guest of Honour. In 2008, Deepika Padukone lead the parade.
21st
India day Parade in NYC Photos | Bollywood
Stars in India day Parade | 22nd
India day Parade in NYC Photos
FIA
The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) of the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut is one of the largest and most powerful umbrella organizations in the Indian community. It represents over 300,000 strong and vibrant Asian-Indians who provides significant grass root support. Established in the year 1970 the FTA has blossomed into a commendable organization that has become an effective mouthpiece and mobilizer for the community.
The FIA represents various issues that concern a growing Asian-Indian community at the local, state, and national levels. Over the years, it has also tried to project a truthful and real image of India to the mainstream community and also further the interests of Indians residing in the United States. It is in this spirit that, since 1981, the annual India Day Parade is held in New York City to present our progress and unity to the many diversified ethnic communities in this area.
Location
Madison Avenue from 41st to 23rd Streets.
Time
12:00 noon onwards
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