The Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT-NE (FIA), along with the Consulate General of India New York hosted a Curtain Raiser July 8, 2024, unveiling the 42nd Annual India Day Parade NYC, a flagship event for the Indian American community in the US.
The event was emceed by Mamta Narula who called on Consul General NY Binaya S. Pradhan to come on stage with FIA representatives.
CG Pradhan, along with FIA President Dr. Avinash Gupta, FIA Chairman Ankur Vaidya, FIA Past President & Board Member Anil Bansal, FIA Senior Advisor Dr. Sudhir Parikh, took the stage to unveil the official poster for this year’s parade. They were joined by the CEO of State Bank of India NY, Prasanta Tripathi,
Dr. Gupta delivered a welcome speech highlighting the unique resonance of the parade’s theme, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” and explaining the format of the August 18 India Day Parade. He appealed to the community to participate as the ambassadors of this event and thanked the media, sponsors, and the executive committee for their support.
Consul General Pradhan welcomed all the guests. He said that even when he was growing up in India, he knew about the parade and the significance of this event. He assured organizers that the consulate will support this event, as they have for the past 5 years, and they will come together to showcase India’s great culture.
The FIA Chairman Vaidya provided an overview of the organization’s history and activities. He urged the community to collaborate to ensure the upcoming event’s success. He praised the efforts of the executive teams who diligently handle post-event responsibilities, including waste management and administrative tasks.
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi as the Guest of Honor, accompanied by an exclusive video of his involvement in the parade.
Jai Bansal introduced Vishwa Hindu Parishad America (VHPA) and described the Ram Mandir float that will be seen at the IDP, aided by a video that provided a sneak-peak into its design and construction.
The India Day Parade is well-known for featuring colorful floats representing diverse Indian-American communities and their cultural expressions. This year, the replica of the newly inaugurated Ayodhya Ram Mandir in India, could prove to be a great draw. It measures 18 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 8 feet tall.
Representatives from VHPA, BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan), and Siddhivinayak Temple came together to unveil the Ram Mandir float. Sanjeev Gupta, a representative from VHPA, elaborated on the significance of the replica’s design and the collaborative efforts between the VHPA and the FIA.
Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, and Senior Advisor to FIA, praised the organization for being a part of the Parade since its inception. FIA Past President and Board member Anil Bansal offered his support and praised the entire community for their hard work.
Prasanta Tripathi, CEO, State Bank of India, NY, has pledged full support for the upcoming parade and confirmed that the entire SBI team will participate.
The evening concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by FIA Executive Vice President Saurin Parikh, who thanked all attendees, speakers, and organizers contributing to the success of the curtain-raiser event.
Andaz restaurant served the dinner to attendees.
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