India Day Parade in New York featuring Ram Mandir (Image Source: India Today)
The 42nd India Day Parade in New York was a vibrant celebration of India’s cultural richness and religious diversity, with thousands of members of the Indian diaspora coming together to honour their homeland’s Independence. The parade, held on Sunday (August 17), featured an array of colourful floats and marching groups that reflected the pluralistic fabric of Indian society, even as it faced attempts at disruption by some groups.
Ram Mandir
One of the central features of the parade was a float depicting the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, a symbol of cultural and religious significance for many Hindus. The float was accompanied by a tableau representing the diverse religious communities of India, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jews, all marching proudly under their banners.
Float featuring Ram MandirMen and women dressed in a dazzling array of traditional attire beat dhols and drums from Maharashtra, heralding the arrival of the Ram Mandir float. Along the parade route, spectators swept up in the excitement, broke through barriers to greet the float, expressing their joy and pride in their cultural heritage.
The parade wound its way down Madison Avenue, transforming the streets into a kaleidoscope of colours. Thousands of marchers participated, while many more lined the sidewalks, waving the Indian tricolour and cheering on the diverse representations of their homeland. The atmosphere was one of celebration and unity, despite efforts by some to cast a shadow over the event.
Protests and Controversy
In the days leading up to the parade, the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) organised a campaign against the inclusion of the Ram Mandir float, calling it an act of “Muslim hate” and “bigotry.” The IAMC, along with other groups claiming to represent Sikhs, Christians, and Hindus, appealed to public officials to ban the float. Their campaign, amplified by sections of the U.S. media, which labelled the float as “controversial” and predicted that it would “mar” the event, sought to create a narrative of division.
One of the protesters against the Ram Mandir float was Shahana Hanif, a Bangladeshi American City Council member, who joined those voicing their opposition.
However, the parade’s vibrant display of India’s religious and cultural diversity stood in stark contrast to these protests. Swami Adveshanand Giri, the head of the Juna Akhada—one of India’s oldest and largest orders of sanyasis—served as the parade’s chief guest.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) showed its support by sending a contingent of officers and their band to march in the parade. The NYPD Desi Society also participated, marching with their own banner, further emphasising the inclusive spirit of the event.
Hindu Genocide in Bangladesh
Amidst the celebration, the parade also served as a platform for advocacy and solidarity. A float with the theme “Stop Hindu Genocide in Bangladesh” called attention to the ongoing attacks on the minority Hindu community in that country.
In a display of cross-cultural solidarity, a man holding an Israeli flag joined a group supporting the anti-genocide banner. At several points along the route, Jewish and Israeli spectators, who have themselves been targets of ideologically similar groups, waved Israeli flags and cheered. The International Organisation of Bene Israel – USA, representing the Jews of India, was among the marchers, further highlighting the parade’s inclusive spirit.
Other floats celebrated various aspects of India’s religious and cultural heritage. A float dedicated to Guru Teg Bahadur, a revered Sikh martyr, highlighted the Sikh community’s contributions. Another float from Muslims for Peace carried the message “Love to All, Hatred to None,” while the National Association of Indian Christians in the USA featured a float proclaiming, “Jesus will bring good news.”
A float dedicated to B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of India’s Constitution and a prominent Dalit leader, was accompanied by participants distributing literature on his efforts to end caste discrimination. A group demanding justice for a woman doctor who was recently raped and killed in Kolkata also marched, adding a note of solemnity and urgency to the parade.
A Cultural Extravaganza
The parade was a feast for the senses, with several Indian folk dance performances and music adding to the festive atmosphere. Various organisations, including those representing doctors, businesses, and media, also had floats, each showcasing a different aspect of the Indian diaspora’s contributions to their adopted homeland.
Despite the pre-parade protests, the event proceeded largely without incident. The only visible sign of dissent was a video truck hired by the IAMC, which displayed messages such as “New Yorkers Say No Place for Islamophobia” and “NY Against Hindutva” as it circled the parade route before the event began.
In the end, the 42nd India Day Parade was a powerful celebration of India’s unity in diversity, with the participation of multiple religious and cultural communities standing as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Indian diaspora. The parade not only honoured India’s Independence but also sent a strong message of inclusivity and harmony, countering the divisive narratives that sought to overshadow the event.
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