ICO India Day Parade at Naperville. / ICO

The India Day Parade and Celebration, a vibrant and culturally immersive event, was held on Aug.11 by Indian Community Outreach (ICO) in Naperville, IL, to commemorate India's 78th Independence Day. 

This event has evolved into one of the largest Indian American celebrations in the nation, boasting a variety of attractions since its inception a decade ago. With an estimated foot traffic of 50,000+ throughout the day, this year's event attracted record-breaking attendees and participants. 

Beautifully decorated parade Ffoats displayed Indian culture. / ICO

The highlight of the event was the two-hour, mile-long parade, which showcased a variety of community organizations, businesses, and public figures, as well as intricately and beautifully decorated floats. Bollywood musician duo, Salim Sulaiman, who attended as the Grand Marshalls of the parade, waved both the Indian and US flag from the ICO float through Mill Street.

The parade was broadcast live by numerous media outlets and featured the culture, dances, and distinctiveness of more than 20 Indian states. Participation by the United States Military was the Parade's noteworthy feature. Vandana Jhingan, ICO Advisor, said that the Parade has surpassed expectations in both magnitude and participation. “We are constantly working to raise the bar to prove to the world that the Indian Americans are the best, both as human beings and professionals,'' she added.

Enthusiatic parade participants celebrate India's Independence day. / ICO

Krishna Bansal, chairman and president of the ICO, stated that the celebrations and the parade were intended to facilitate the integration of Indian Americans into the mainstream of America. He expressed his pride in the fact that this event has not only restored the love and pride for India among the first and Gen X/Y/Z of adults and youths here from India, but has also generated significant awareness and respect for India among Americans. 

Rotary Hill was the site of a full day of activities following the parade. The talent show featured performances by dance groups from Chicagoland. Shirlzar was declared the runners-up in the dance competition, while Team Ghunguru emerged as the winner. A singer from Naperville, Barani Kannan, performed in a variety of South Indian languages. Following the cultural performance, the recipients of the ICO Scholarship were acknowledged on stage and awarded certificates and checks. 
 

Dance performances by dance groups from Chicagoland. / ICO

Salman and Sajan Vadali, DJs, continued to dominate the stage throughout the afternoon prior to the evening program. The Indian national anthem was performed shortly after the American national anthem, which commenced the evening show. Singer Krishna Beuraa then performed timeless Bollywood melodies, preceding the highly acclaimed Indian Bollywood duo Salim-Sulaiman, who ignited the stage with numerous Bollywood hit songs. 

Indian Bollywood duo Salim-Sulaiman enthralled the crowd with numerous Bollywood hit songs.  / ICO

Somnath Ghosh, the Consul General of India, was one of the guests of honor. In his address, he congratulated ICO and wished everyone a happy Independence Day of India. Dignitaries, including Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli, as well as numerous Congressmen, elected Judges, Senators, Representatives, County Members, Township Trustees, Mayors, Councilmen, and prominent leaders of Chicago and Naperville, also attended the event. 

Dr. Bharat Barai, a prominent leader in the Indian-American community, read the message that Prime Minister Modi had sent for the occasion. This year's honorees included the Patel Brothers, Mafat Patel and Tulsi Patel, for their 50 years of service in establishing a homeland for Indian Americans in the States, as well as Shalabh Kumar and Darshan Singh Dhaliwal for their significant contributions to the community.

 

Consul General of India Somnath Ghosh addressing the gathering. / ICO

An international food court featuring delectable dishes from a variety of local and out-of-state vendors, a health fair that offered pre-screening for common ailments, and an ethnic Indian bazaar featuring fashion, clothing, and jewelry all captivated the attention of the attendees. Sponsors and businesses were showcasing their products at the event. 
 
Viral Shah, ICO treasurer, stated that the event was free for the public.  “A program of this magnitude takes a village to put up and that is what our core team does year after year. This was made possible with the generous support of our sponsors, including business organizations and leaders, technology companies, corporates, and local organizations,” he said. 

ICO organizing team. / ICO