MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano joined ITV reporter Riti Bhalla and watched the Republic Day festivities telecast from New Delhi and marveled at the great national celebration in India with “wonderful parade, the beautiful floats and a great expression of democracy.”

Last week, joining the teen host of Riti Bhalla Special, Mangano said, “I hope that someday I will watch the parade in New Delhi in person.” Appearing fifth time since 2011 on the special India Day shows hosted by Bhalla, Mangano, representing a county larger in population than seven states of America, greeted Indian Americans across the US with “Happy Republic Day, Jai Hind”. Mangano also commended Indian Americans at large and especially those “who are part of my administration in Nassau County and contribute to our successes each and every day.”

Bhalla, currently a student of New York University, started hosting her biannual celebrations of the Republic Day and the Independence Day of India in 2008, when she was 14 years old. Over the years, ten governors, 22 senators and congressional leaders, as well as four presidential candidates – Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, John McCain and Joe Lieberman – have also appeared on Bhalla’s shows.

Bollywood celebrities, Shah Rukh Khan, Yash Chopra, Sanjay Dutt and Anushka Sharma as well as the former President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam have appeared as Riti’s guests. In 2012, history of sorts was made on Riti Bhalla Special when Indian American Astronaut Sunita Williams connected with Bhalla all the way from the International Space Station and greeted Indians around the world on Independence Day. The program was telecast in over 100 countries and covered by the print media worldwide.