New York & California, Aug 17, 2004
IANS
The sights and sounds of India descended on the streets
of midtown Manhattan to the cheering of thousands of tri-colour
waving people who gathered to celebrate India's 58th Independence
Day.
Noted music director A.R. Rahman, Bollywood actor Dino Morea
and Congress MP Madhu Goud Yaskhi, a practising Manhattan
attorney who is the only NRI member of the Indian parliament,
were chief guests at the annual India Day Parade, organized
by Indian American organizations.
New York Police Department (NYPD) personnel led the parade
on horseback carrying the Indian tricolour and the American
national flag and were accompanied by the NYPD music band.
For the first time in the history of NYPD, 30 police officers
of Indian origin participated in the parade
Thousands of people cheered the marchers all along the route,
waving the Indian tricolour and shouting "Jai Hind,"
"Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Long Live India".
The floats at the parade exhibited India's rich and diverse
traditions as well as economic growth. The Hare Krishna Group,
National Association of Christians, and Muslims or North America
showcased India's religious diversity to the world.
As the parade ended on 27th street, a cultural extravaganza
- a non-stop three-hour dance and music programme - began
on Madison Square Gardens.
People thronged to the few vendors who sold Indian delicacies
like bhel puri, chaat, dosa, idli, vada, and tandoori dishes.
There were some stalls selling Indian artefacts and dresses.
For the thousands of Indian Americans it was a day of expressing
solidarity with their motherland, India.
Media reports from California said there were two functions
held by rival Indian American organizations. One was in Fremont
where there was a parade with floats and an elaborate fashion
show while the other was set in a beautiful park in downtown
San Jose, California.
Both the festivals held this weekend to honour India's independence
appeared to have everything in common -- great food and a
chance to reunite with old friends. According to the organizers
an estimated 10,000 tickets were sold in Fremont and 4,000
in San Jose.
While both the events overlapped in entertainment, food and
community outreach, the Fremont festival was larger in size
and scope. In Fremont, more than 100 doctors set up tables,
while in San Jose about two dozen doctors were on hand to
provide free medical screening.
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