Indian Community Outreach and The City of Naperville will be hosting the second grand India Day Parade and Celebration on August 14, 2016 (Sunday) to mark the 70th anniversary of India’s independence. Several thousand people from Chicago and the suburbs are expected to attend the parade and event to be held in downtown Naperville.
The India Day Parade will serve as a showcase of India’s rich and diverse culture, with more than 100 floats organized by Indian cultural, local business and political organizations. Spectators will be treated to a rich variety of Indian cuisine, ethnic arts, apparel, and jewelry. This event has the distinction of being the 2nd India Day Parade backed by any city in Midwest America.
The event is being organized by the Indian Community Outreach Organization (ICO) in association with the City of Naperville. The ICO is a non-partisan and a not for profit organization whose mission is to preserve and promote the cultural heritage and contributions of Indian Americans while promoting their integration in the growth of Naperville. Its chairman Krishna Bansal has been appointed by, and reports to the Mayor of Naperville.
Bansal said he and his team are excited to have the ICO organize this pioneering event. “Indian Americans are now a significant part of Naperville’s population in both numbers and impact,” he said. The community, which saw a dramatic growth since the nineties, now comprises over 10 percent of the suburb’s total population. Moreover, with the recent influx of information tech-nology workers and other professionals from India, over 70 percent are first generation immigrants.
Viral Shah, board member and treasurer of ICO described several South Asian community leaders, restaurants, businesses and cultural organizations have come forward to support the event. While Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico and Consul General of India in Chicago, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, will be chief guests, Sunidhi Chauhan, Indian’s sensational singer will be the Parade Marshal.
Chirag Jani, board member of ICO and lead of event logistics explained that parade will begin in Downtown Naperville at 5:00 PM and end at Knoch Park, 724 S West St, Naperville, IL 60540 where the celebration will kick off. The final route details are being worked out with the City of Naperville. While providing outline of the event, he emphasized this to be an excellent opportunity for local businesses and groups to partner, participate and gain visibility.
The parade may be seen as a symbol of the rapid growth of the Indian American community in the Chicago suburbs. Among the other dignitaries attending are the state and local elected representatives and prominent leaders of the Naperville community.
The hip and happening Bollywood singing sensation, Sunidhi Chauhan, with several big hit under her belt, will present a number of soulful melodies on August 14, 2016, at 5.00 PM, and capture the hearts of music lovers of #Chicago. She will be supported by a state-of-the art orchestra. It is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her fans considering the fact that the entry to the concert will be FREE.
Additional information about the parade and celebration including applications to participate in the parade and celebrations as well as sponsorship is available on www.napervilleindian.com