The India Day Parade organized by the FIA NY NJ CT NE in New York City is billed as the largest India Day Parade outside of India. And it is just a few days away. The Indian Panorama spoke with the FIA President Dr. Avinash Gupta on August 4 to know about the preparations for the 42^nd edition of the parade on August 18.

Here are some excerpts.

TIP: Thank you for taking out your time to speak with the Indian Panama. The world famous, one of the largest India Day parades, and the largest India Day Parade outside of India is just about a few days away now, and as the time  comes nearer, in spite of the arrangements that you have had in place till now, you might be quite nervous. Are you?

Avinash: It’s natural to be nervous, but I’m very much at it because of our hardworking and dedicated team. And you will be surprised to know that our preparation starts the day after the parade for next year. So,  it was a long time and long way.

TIP: So, you got the whole year to prepare for it.

Avinash: Yes, we have to take the New York City permits; we have to have floats. We have to put up the review stand, press stand. Then we have to arrange for a gala. We have to select caterers. Then  there is a cultural program. And the biggest and most difficult is to get the celebrities from India.

TIP: You have a very impressive array of guests this year,  I think, topped by the  famous Bihari origin  famous Bollywood actress Sonakshi  Sinha.  If I am not mistaken, she is going to be the Grand Marshal.

Avinash: Yes. Our theme this year is Vasudhaiv   Kutambakam. World is one family. And we are celebrating unity and diversity and inclusiveness.  I’m proud to announce that our Grand Marshal is Bollywood superstar  Sonakshi Sinha, and we have two guests of honor. One is a versatile actor, Mr. Pankaj Tripathy,  and the other is Member of Indian Parliament,  and  actor and singer, Mr. Manoj Tiwari.

TIP: Is it a coincidence, or it’s by design that you have all the three coming from Bihar.

Avinash:  It’s just a coincidence.

TIP: Somebody was saying, look here the president this year is from Bihar or Jharkhand, if you prefer to say.  Because he’s from there  so he has a preference for people from his own state .Is that so?

Avinash: No, that’s not true. It was just a coincidence. Just a coincidence, because these three names are recognized all over India. They are pan global stars.

TIP: The head of the organization  is a Bihari. And the three  guests that are coming to the to bring glory to your career, they also happen to be Bihari. So, do we call it a Bihar affair?

Avinash:  Not at all. I’m a proud Bihari, but before that, I’m a proud Indian, and we are celebrating India’s Independence Day.  We have to show our strength. There are 5 million of us in this country, and we don’t have a say. But I’m very much excited that more and more people are coming into mainstream, whether it is science, technology or even politics. And that day, just like you saw the sea of blue after the World Cup win, you will see a sea of American Indians, or I would say, Indian Americans in Madison Avenue, between 38th Street and 28th Street.

TIP:  Besides those three names that you have taken, who are celebrities in their own right, and they are coming here as your special guests, what other celebrities or VIPs do you think would be appearing at the parade?

Avinash:  I’m proud to announce that Mayor of New York City  has always come. And this year also he has he’s coming. And this year, Governor of New York State Kathy Hochul will also be there.

TIP: Can you give us an outline of the program for the 18th, the day of the parade?

Avinash: Actually, before the parade which is on the 18^th ,  we have 15th of August, which is the Independence Day. We  hoist a tricolor on Times Square, and we have been doing it for three years.

TIP: And what time is that?

Avinash: It’s at 1030 AM at  Times Square.

TIP:  And is it  open to public?

Avinash:  It’s open to public, and usually the Consul General  hoists the flag,  and we invite all the local congressmen, senators. And then in the evening, we have lighting of the Empire State Building in tricolor. And we are going to get a celebrity to do that. And then after  the 15th of August, on  Sunday, August 18 is the parade. We start at 12  noon  from 38th Street and Madison Avenue  and march all the way down to 28th Street. And then there are  booths. We have lot of booths, and they are all filled up. We have food booths. Vendors are there. They are promoting local business. So, although the premium booth is  for $2500 and standard booth is for $1500 there is a special pricing for  women entrepreneur. We just don’t talk women empowerment; we practice it also. For women entrepreneur it is only $500. Then we have the Gala.  It’s a grand Gala, and this year it is a very relevant location- Smithsonian National Museum of American Indian in Battery Park, One Bowling Green, from  six o’clock to 10 o’clock .

TIP: Is it on the same day- August 18?

Avinash: Yes, the same day, same day, the 18th. All the celebrities will be there. The governor will be there. And all the businesspeople, who’s who of New York City and tri state area are there. So,  it’s a good opportunity to meet with the celebrities and also network with the businesspeople. And like I said, Who’s Who of New York is there.

TIP: That apart.  What is there for the common people who would be coming to the parade? They would of course, be watching the parade. And also, you said there is a cultural program. Is it  open to public?

Avinash: Yes. Cultural program is open to public.

TIP: And what my readers would like to know from you, the kind of program that you are presenting, the artist who are coming?

Avinash: There is a patriotic dress competition.

TIP: That’s something new.

Avinash:  And that’s very popular. And there is cash prize for that, and a ticket to the gala also. And then in the cultural program which is  actually very top class, because all the famous dance schools will participate. And this year, Mr. Manoj Tiwari has agreed to sing there. So,  that will be an added attraction, in addition to all the dance schools.

TIP: Are the celebrities  going to appear on the stage?

Avinash: Yes, all three celebrities, and that’s on 25th Street from 2. 30 PM to 5 PM.

TIP: How  many people do you expect in this parade this year?

Avinash: We are expecting more people this year because of all the three celebrities and so,  definitely more than 100,000 or  150,000 people  on both sides of the street, and the highlight of this year is the  Ram Mandir afloat.

TIP Can you  please talk about Ram Mandir float?

Avinash: Yeah. So, this is the exact replica of the Ram Mandir, which was built in Ayodhya after 500 years of wait, and  all the Ram bhaktas  are going to march with the float. And this float has already been built and shipped from India, and it’s being assembled as we speak. And there are   nine streets and  18 corners. There will be Ram Bhaktas  there. Each corner is assigned to a temple, and the people are coming by  bus to the corner, and there they will be provided refreshment  when they reach there, and they will be given  flower petals to shower on the Ram Mandir when the Ram Mandir float passes through that street.

TIP: Some time ago, there was  a mention about FIA organizing a bhandara. Can you comment on that?

Avinash: Yeah.  So,  we are still planning on that. We are talking to Mr. Vikas Khanna who is the celebrity Chef.  He was planning to do the bhandara.  We will give to  5000 people  the Prasad,  some of it is coming from Ayodhya directly

TIP: This food will not be for everybody, because there will be so many people?

Avinash: Yeah. first come, first served.

TIP: And where will it be served ?

Avinash: It will be in the booth area.

TIP: So, Mr. Khanna will have a booth there?

Avinash: Yes.  that would be after the parade.

TIP: How  many booths you  think are there?

Avinash: Now, there are 50 booths, and 30 of them are already filled up.

TIP: 30 of them?  20 are left?  You said, for women, it’s a subsidized rate at $500?

Avinash: Yes.

TIP: Another thing about the floats. How many floats are going to be there, besides the Ram Mandir float?  Is it going to be the first float?

Avinash: Actually, every year we have a Siddhi  Vinayak temple float . They come first.  Ram Mandir float will be the second. And then FIA float, then Consulate float,  State Bank of India float. So, that’s like that.

TIP: How many floats are there?

Avinash: 25 floats are already registered, but we are expecting at least 10 more. And we have invited all religious entities, all ethnic entities, all states. And I have been talking constantly to everybody. So, the Christians are participating, Muslims are participating, and Sikhs hopefully will participate also.

TIP: I remember you mentioning this at the time of the curtain raiser in the Consulate. Very clearly you said that you invite to all people, people belonging to all faiths, to come with their religious signs. People belonging  to all states, all kinds of people are welcome because it is India Day Parade.  I remember very distinctly you said that, and that was very good of you. It was taken in a very good spirit, in the right spirit that you wanted to convey to people. So, is there  anything that you would expect in particular from community?

Avinash: Yes, definitely.  I appeal to all the community members with family and friends to give your three hours and come to the parade and enjoy. There will be something for everybody. The colorful floats, the food stalls, the DJ music,  Gala, cultural program. So,  there will be something for everybody. So,  everybody should come and show our strength, show our unity in diversity and inclusiveness, and enjoy the parade.

I hope readers of The Indian Panorama have a fairly  good idea of what they can expect at the world famous, the largest India Day Parade outside of India in New York City on Sunday, August 18. Get set and come over for a lovely experience. Let me tell you, the weather god is pleased , and it is going to be a perfect weather for an outing. Come yourself, bring your family, friends and neighbors, in particular the non-Indian ones. Let them know who we are and what we value.

Bharat Mata Ki Jai!