– NEW YORK
The Federation of Indian Associations of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut (FIA Tristate), in support from their sponsors will attempt for an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records at its 35th Annual India Day Parade in August. The announcement was made June 15 at a curtain raiser event held at the Consulate General of India here.
To be held on Aug. 16 on Madison Avenue, the parade will include its trademark floats, several marching groups and bands as well as a host of celebrities from Bollywood, FIA President Ankur Vaidya told Desi Talk. Vaidya however refused to disclose the categories for the Guinness World records, saying that the group wants to keep it a secret.
Through the medium of this year’s parade, FIA will support the Darjeeling Sanitation Project, which is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Clean India” initiative.
Sixty-seven percent of the total cost will be provided by FIA, while the remaining 33 percent will be provided by the beneficiary, Vaidya said. The Darjeeling Sanitation Project aims to reduce the incidence of waterborne disease for at least 3,500 people in Darjeeling through access to potable water and improved sanitation and hygiene practice.
Speaking on the occasion, Dnyaneshwar Mulay, consul general of India in New York, lauded FIA for completing 35 years of the iconic parade. He also urged the group to increase their engagements with the community, requesting them to organize events on a monthly basis.
Prominent members of the community including Rishikant Singh, Air India Regional Manager for Americas, Praveen Kumar of State Bank of India, Dr. Sudhir M. Parikh, publisher of Desi Talk and recipient of India’s Padma Shri award, FIA Chairman Ramesh Patel, H.R. Shah of TV Asia, and FIA Trustee Albert Jasani attended the event.
Calling the parade a 35-year-old institution, Dr. Parikh said the annual event not only showcases India’s culture and heritage, but it also brings the second generation of Indian-Americans closer to India, and connects the mainstream American society to it as well. “This way the parade serves a much bigger purpose than just celebrating India’s Independence Day,” he added.
The annual event attracts a record number of crowds from the tristate each year Last year, over 200,000 people attended the 34th edition of the parade and the cultural entertainment program, Vaidya said.
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