As part of India’s 79th Independence Day celebrations, the Consulate General of India in Seattle, in collaboration with the City of Seattle, organized the first-ever India Day Parade in Downtown Seattle on August 16, 2025. The historic celebration brought together thousands of Indian Americans and Seattle residents, highlighting India’s cultural richness and diversity through music, dance, art, and cuisine.

The festivities included vibrant cultural performances representing all states of India and an India Pavilion featuring the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, which displayed unique products from each state and union territory.

The event drew several high-profile dignitaries as Guests of Honor, including Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, U.S. Congressman Adam Smith, Seattle Port Commissioner Sam Cho, Seattle Parks & Recreation Superintendent A.P. Diaz, King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, U.S. Coast Guard’s Northwest District Commander Rear Admiral Arex Avanni, and Washington Supreme Court Justice Steven Gonzalez. Also in attendance were the mayors of Mercer Island, Normandy Park, Sammamish, and North Bend.

Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta, alongside Mayor Harrell and other dignitaries, ceremonially flagged off the grand parade, releasing tricolor balloons into the sky.

In his address to more than 2,000 attendees, Mayor Harrell welcomed the opening of the Indian Consulate in Seattle as a landmark milestone. He praised the contributions of Indian Americans to Seattle’s growth and diversity, noting that the U.S. can learn from India’s enduring values of love, compassion, and non-violence. Congressman Adam Smith emphasized the importance of peace and security in the modern world, calling India “one of the United States’ strongest partners” in achieving those goals.

In the true Indian spirit of Unity in Diversity, thousands of Indian-Americans from across all States of India took part in the parade through floats and performances that showcased their region’s unique culture, languages, and art forms. Each float and performance were coordinated by community groups led by prominent Indian-American community leaders. 

The parade showcased the spirit of Unity in Diversity with floats and performances from Indian-American groups across Washington State. Lead Washington Telangana Association, highlights included Gujarat’s colorful Garba, Maharashtra’s lively Lavani folk dance, Andhra Pradesh’s classical Kuchipudi, Odisha’s Boita Bandana accompanied by “Vande Utkala Janani,” and West Bengal’s float honoring Swami Vivekananda.

Thematic showcases enriched the celebration further—Indian Heritage Arts displayed traditional paintings created by young Indian Americans, Gurukul celebrated India’s vast linguistic diversity, and Beats of Washington performed a dynamic tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji.

The India Pavilion was among the most popular attractions, featuring more than 30 booths dedicated to India’s 28 states and additional cultural themes. Each exhibit highlighted ODOP items, explained their cultural and historical relevance, and offered visitors a chance to experience regional cuisines and traditional artifacts.

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