New York: The India Day parade, to be held on August 17 in Manhattan, is going to feature Bollywood actor Suny Deol, Billionaire Vivek Ranadive, the leader of the owner group of the Sacramento Kings – the first Indian American owner in NBA history, and the founder and CEO of TIBCO, a real-time computing company which is credited with digitizing Wall Street, as Grand Marshalls.
Last year, social activist Anna Hazare and actress Vidya Balan were the Grand Marshals.
Apart from Grand Marshals, people lining in the streets will witness more familiar stars and performers from India in the parade.
Ranging from tennis player Leander Paes, actress Raveena Tandon, singer Daler Mehndi to television stars Arjun, Kamya Panjabi, Zarine Khan and Daisy Shah and Bhagwatacharya Devkinandan Thakur, the parade will be star-studded India's 67th Independence Day will be celebrated in the heart of Manhattan, on Madison Avenue. It attracts thousands of people every year.
Bollywood stars' participation has been on a high over the years in this annual parade which has a street fair kind of atmosphere. Cultural programmes by local artists and children's groups are the main attraction with desi stalls lined up around the arena, selling food and advertising products.
However, in last few years, the organizers of India Day Parade- “Federation of Indian Associations” has faced sheer criticism for hastily made-up float that lack in imagination and class, catering more to advertise companies and products than showcase India and its rich culture.
Most people who attend this event treat it as a family outing with dollops of Indian food to be savored on a summer day, with some tamasha thrown in. Patriotic fervor is usually high with Indian flags waved all along the parade route.
The crowd comes in and droves every year, and this year should be no exception. The chance to catch a glimpse of Bollywood stars, usually to be seen only on theater or television screens, is also an added attraction.
The political heavyweights from Tri-state area who are expected to attend the parade are New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, who earlier this month joined the India Caucus.
