The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA-NY-NJ-CT-NE) hosted a curtain-raiser for the 43rd India Day Parade, scheduled for August 17, 2025, in New York City. The event, held on June 27 at the Consulate General of India in New York, began with a solemn moment of reflection in honor of victims of recent tragedies, from Pahalgam to Ahmedabad.
This year’s parade theme, “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah,” conveys a timeless message of peace and universal well-being.
Indian cinema icons Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna, who will serve as Co-Grand Marshals, addressed the audience with a multilingual message aligning with this year’s theme. Their greetings were delivered in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and English. Both stars pledged to march on Madison Avenue and participate in the Independence Day festivities, signing off with an emphatic “Jai Hind,” according to a statement from FIA.
Consul General of India in New York, Ambassador Binaya S. Pradhan, opened the evening by applauding FIA’s legacy. “For half a century, the Federation of Indian Associations has been a force-multiplier for India’s image in America,” he noted, encouraging the organization to copyright its signature initiatives to facilitate scalable replication across other diaspora centers. He praised the parade’s evolution from a modest single-float procession in 1981 to what is now celebrated as the world’s largest India Day event.
Deputy Consul General Vishal Harsh echoed this sentiment, recalling last year’s Chandrayaan-3 and Ram Mandir floats as standout moments. “New York now measures cultural spectacle in tricolors,” he said, pledging continued consular support and urging the community to participate in large numbers to uphold the spirit of Bharat.
Founder and CEO of Cricmax Connect, Vinay Bhimjiani, announced the company’s role as title sponsor for the Independence Day celebrations. His vision of positioning cricket alongside soccer as a mainstream American sport drew considerable interest.
“Major League Cricket is barely in its third season and already has Microsoft money plus equity from IPL powerhouses KKR and CSK,” Bhimjiani shared. “Imagine when Little League parks from Queens to Cupertino echo with the sound of leather on willow.”
On July 14, Cricmax will stage a first-of-its-kind cricket exhibition inside the iconic Los Angeles Coliseum, a preview of the sport’s Olympic return in 2028. On parade day, a mini-cricket pitch on Madison Avenue will invite families to engage with the game, and interactive touchscreens will broadcast real-time data from Cricmax’s coaching app.
“We are not importing marquee names for a selfie,” Bhimjiani added. “We’re growing home-grown talent and making the diaspora our venture capital.”
USA Cricket CEO Atul Rai joined Bhimjiani onstage, framing their collaboration as “nation-building through sport.” Recalling his own childhood experience picking up a cricket bat in India at the age of five, Rai called on city governments to repurpose dormant baseball fields for weekend cricket clinics. “Cricket is already the world’s second-largest game. Let’s make it America’s newest obsession,” he declared.
Chandra Mohan and Sreekanth Akkapalli of Axria were also introduced as grand sponsors, committing to a long-term partnership with FIA.
FIA Chairman Ankur Vaidya opened his remarks with a tribute to the late Ramesh Patel, former Chairman Emeritus, observing a moment of silence in his honor. Vaidya emphasized that the curtain-raiser “belongs to the community and FIA merely facilitates.” He confirmed that the parade logistics will remain entirely volunteer-driven and hinted at major post-parade announcements, including corporate MOUs and the unveiling of Cipriani as the gala venue.
FIA President Saurin Parikh officially launched this year’s theme, “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah – A Global Initiative for Universal Well-being,” calling it a message of healing amid global uncertainty. The pastel-themed poster, featuring mandalas and peace symbols, will be the visual centerpiece of this year’s campaign. In a notable move toward inclusivity, all ethnic associations have been invited to submit floats at no cost. “This parade isn’t pay-to-play; it’s pride-to-participate,” Parikh said.
The FIA Executive Committee also shared several operational highlights. Dr. Avinash Gupta, Immediate Past President, emphasized the growing scale and influence of the celebration. “Every year it gets bigger and better,” he said, urging the community to subscribe to FIA’s Diaspora Bi-Weekly newsletter and spread the word about what has become the largest India Day Parade outside India.
Joint Treasurer Haresh Shah confirmed that the Indian national flag will be hoisted at Times Square on August 15 at 8 a.m., while Joint Secretary Mahesh Dubal announced the Empire State Building will be lit in the colors of the Indian tricolor that evening. Vice President Deepak Goel noted that cultural contingents from Guyana, Mauritius, and Reunion Island will also participate, reinforcing the parade’s global Indian identity.
Executive Vice President Smita Miki Patel shared that 18 youth performances choreographed around the parade theme will be featured. Vice President Priti Ray Patel previewed the post-parade gala at Cipriani Wall Street and a crowd-pleasing “Gol Gappa Competition” to crown New York City’s pani puri champion.
FIA Gala Convenor Manan Saxena promised a fusion of timeless tradition and modern elegance, highlighting the return of New York’s longest, Instagram-worthy dessert table featuring both Indian and international confections.
Amit Verma, Country Head of State Bank of India (USA), celebrated the parallel journeys of SBI and FIA. “FIA was founded in 1970, SBI arrived in 1971—our stories are braided together,” he noted.
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