Thousands celebrate the pride of their motherland at the 13th India Day Parade of Long Island in Hicksville on August 25

H 1 — On the float , from L to R: Town of North Hempstead Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava, Grand Marshals Neetu Chandra, Jaya Prada Nahata, Vishal Jayesh Bhai Harsh - Consul (Economy, HOC & CPIO), Grand Marshal Dr. Urmilesh Arya, and Guest of Honor Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena. Seen walking along the float on the right are Indu Jaiswal and Jay Jasbir Singh

HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP) : The India Day Parade of Long Island this year surpassed the glory and grandeur of the previous parades, as witnessed by tens of thousands of people celebrating India’s 78th Independence Day here in Long Island on August 25. A record 50 marching groups from different organizations and 11 floats participated in the parade, which were cheered on by the public waving the Indian Flag and lining alongside South Broadway down from the Patel Brothers Plaza.

The floats included a replica of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Ram Mandir, consecrated in Ayodhya earlier this year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and one float of Lord Ganesha. Other floats included the Arya Samaj of Long Island, LIPAC and many more. The surprising participation by the Hicksville School Marching band and 25 motorcycle riders was a great attraction to the onlookers for the annual parade.

Grand Marshals and guests of honor lead the parade.

Organized by IDP USA, the parade, now in its 13th year, was a grand success held under the leadership of co-Presidents Vimal Goyal and Deepak Bansal, their team and Nassau County Human Rights Commission Chair Dr. Bobby Kumar Kalotee.

Celebrity Grand Marshals were comely actress and politician Jaya Prada Nahata and actress Neetu Chandra who stole the hearts of their fans. Dr Urmilesh Arya was the community Grand Marshall. Consul General Binaya Pradhan as Grand Marshall was represented by Vishal Jayesh Bhai Harsh – Consul (Economy, HOC & CPIO) and Mr. Anurag. Harry Singh Bolla of Bolla Oil, Shudh Prakash Singh, and Dr Jay Sarkar were Chief Guests. There were several Guests of Honor and dignitaries who were present.

The elected officials who addressed the surging crowds from the stage at Patel Brothers and later at the entertainment stage included Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, NY Senate members Steve Rhoads and Jack Martins, TOBAY Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Nassau County Legislator from Hicksville Rose Marie Walker, and Town of North Hempstead Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava and others.

Grand Marshals, guests of honor, dignitaries and organizers.

Several dignitaries and lawmakers as well as celebrities and prominent guests from the community joined in the celebrations, adding to the gravitas of the calendar event of Long Island. Patriotic songs and slogans, such as ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ and ‘Jai Hind,’ rang out in the air as people waved India’s tricolor along the parade route.

The parade culminated at the sprawling LIRR parking lot. Over 55 booths set up there attracted a stream of visitors. Free, delicious meals were served to all, courtesy of IDP USA. Bolla Market set up Free Children’s Carnival Games.

In the afternoon, the gathering was regaled with popular Bollywood and Punjabi songs by well-known entertainers Rex D’Souza with his live band, Indian Idol Khuda Baksh, and Bhangra King Sarabjeet Cheema.

Several people, including members of the IDP Team such as Chairman Bobby Kalotee, President Vimal Goyal, Past Presidents Jay Jasbir Singh, Indu Jaiswal, Senior Vice Presidents Nilima Madan, Bina Sabapathy and many team members and others were seen dancing with joy near the stage as they celebrated India’s 78th Independence Day.

(Based on a Press Release and photographs submitted by Nilima Madan)