India@75: Khadi tricolour fly-past over Hudson river, billboard at Times Square attractions in New York

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New
York,
Aug
12:
A
fly-past
by
a
220
ft-long
majestic
Indian
tricolour,
made
of
Khadi,
over
the
iconic
Hudson
river
and
the
display
of
a
giant
billboard
at
the
Times
Square
are
among
the
highlights
of
the
grand
celebrations
planned
to
mark
75
years
of
India’s
Independence
here
this
week.

The
Federation
of
Indian
Associations
NY-NJ-CT-NE
(FIA)
has
planned
a
plethora
of
special
events
to
celebrate
India’s
75
years
of
Independence
–
Azadi
Ka
Amrit
Mahotsav
this
year.

The
commemoration
will
start
with
the
hoisting
of
the
Indian
national
flag,
made
of
Khadi,
at
Times
Square
on
August
15.
As
in
previous
years,
the
iconic
Empire
State
Building
will
also
be
lit
up
in
hues
of
the
Indian
tricolour.

FIA
said
that
as
part
of
its
grand
celebrations
to
mark
75
years
of
India’s
independence
under
the
auspices
of
Azadi
Ka
Amrit
Mahotsav,
the
diaspora
organisation
will
display
a
giant
‘India
Day
Parade’ billboard
at
Times
Square
on
August
15.

Further,
a
special
220
feet-long
Indian
tricolour,
made
of
Khadi,
will
be
flown
over
the
Hudson
River
here,
FIA
said
adding
that
this
will
be
a
one-of-its-kind
special
fly-past
of
the
“largest
Indian
tricolour”
over
the
iconic
river
and
will
be
witnessed
by
thousands.

Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav: 1 cr Rajasthan students aim world record in singing patriotic songs

FIA
President
Kenny
Desai
announced
that
the
Grand
Marshal
at
FIA’s
40th
India
Day
Parade
on
August
21
will
be
Arjun,
the
Telugu
superstar
whose
movies
have
been
a
hit
across
India.
He
also
expressed
happiness
and
excitement
over
the
largest
Khadi
Tirangaa
to
be
flown
on
August
15
over
the
Hudson
River
between
New
York
and
New
Jersey.

New
York
State
Governor
Kathy
Hochul,
New
York
City
Mayor
Eric
Adams,
Prime
Minister
of
Antigua
and
Barbuda
Gaston
Alfonso
Browne,
NASA
astronaut
Raja
Chari,
renowned
artists
Shankar
Mahadevan
and
Kailash
Kher,
cricketing
legends
Courtney
Walsh
and
Curtly
Ambrose
are
among
the
Guests
of
Honor
for
the
India
Day
Parade.

At
this
year’s
parade,
FIA
said
attempts
will
be
made
to
set
the
Guinness
World
Records
for
the
‘Most
Different
Flags
Flown
simultaneously’ and
the
‘Largest
Ensemble
Damaru.’
Pan-India
mega
star
Allu
Arjun,
who
starred
in
blockbuster
‘Pushpa’,
will
lead
the
annual
India
Day
Parade
here
next
month
organised
by
a
leading
Indian
diaspora
organisation.

Arjun,
as
the
Grand
Marshal,
will
lead
the
parade
along
with
the
New
York
City
Mayor
and
a
host
of
other
distinguished
dignitaries
and
celebrities.
The
FIA
India
Day
parade
is
considered
the
largest
parade
outside
India
to
mark
the
country’s
independence
and
brings
together
thousands
of
members
of
the
diaspora
for
one
of
the
biggest
cultural
extravaganzas
in
the
US.

FIA
said
its
entire
team
and
the
Indian-American
community
are
all
set
to
create
history
with
its
grand
celebrations
of
India’s
75th
Independence
Day
this
year.

FIA’s
team
of
180
volunteers
are
working
round
the
clock
to
prepare
for
the
various
events
to
be
held
on
August
15
and
21st
to
celebrate
“the
motherland
and
the
‘Azadi
Ka
Amrit
Mahotsav’
marking
the
75th
Anniversary
of
India’s
Independence.”
FIA
added
that
it
has
reached
out
to
over
100
Tamil
&
Telugu
Associations
and
received
tremendous
response
in
support
of
the
events.

FIA
Chairman
Ankur
Vaidya
called
on
the
diaspora
community
to
support
the
tireless
and
selfless
efforts
of
the
volunteers
working
round
the
clock
to
ensure
the
success
of
all
the
events.
The
two
attempts
to
set
the
Guinness
Book
of
World
Records
have
“global
inclusiveness
and
a
message
of
peace,
harmony
and
spirituality.”
The
India
Day
Parade,
a
cultural
extravaganza,
which
had
also
faced
disruptions
due
to
the
COVID-19
pandemic,
runs
through
several
streets
of
Madison
Avenue
in
the
heart
of
Manhattan,
featuring
tableaux
by
various
Indian-American
organisations,
marching
bands,
police
contingents
and
cultural
performances
by
young
Indian-American
children.

Desai
voiced
appreciation
for
the
FIA
committee
for
its
work
and
efforts
and
said
he
is
proud
to
be
part
of
the
team
which
has
been
working
tirelessly
round
the
clock
to
put
together
this
event
of
massive
proportion.

Every
year,
thousands
of
people
from
the
Indian
diaspora
converge
in
the
heart
of
Manhattan
in
their
traditional
finery
to
celebrate
India’s
Independence
Day.
The
day-long
celebration
includes
special
food
stalls,
a
cultural
extravaganza
and
floats
by
various
organisations
based
in
the
US.