Sixth Annual Celebration of India’s Independence Day is observed by the City of Naperville
Mayor A. George Pradel, State Rep. Tom Cross, other Naperville community leaders and public officials from throughout DuPage County gathered with friends and families to observe India’s 68th Independence Day. Festivities ran from 10AM to 2:30PM on Sun., Aug. 17 in Central Park, located in downtown Naperville.
Since 2009, the flag-raising ceremony for India Independence Day has been held at the Naperville Municipal Center in mid-August, the anniversary of Aug. 15, 1947, when India gained its freedom from British rule and became a sovereign nation.
“We are so pleased to have had such great support from Mayor Pradel and other community leaders for this important day to the Indian-American community,” said Prem Lalvani of the Alliance of Midwest Associations in a news release prior to the celebration. “When I approached the Mayor about this in 2009, he was so enthusiastic and supportive.”
According to Lalvani, support for the celebration has grown every year, so organizers decided to move the event to Central Park to accommodate the ever-increasing attendance.
Organizers said Sunday’s attendance appeared to be more than double that of other years.
Patriotic accents began the festivities with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, followed by the National Anthem of India which was led by a youth choir from the Veenagana School of Music in Woodridge and accompanied by a violinist.
The new location provided a stage at the Naperville Community Concert Center in Central Park with benches for seating. The outdoor park setting was well received, except for unexpected challenges with the sound system. Without a microphone, organizers and guest speakers tried to use a hand-held bullhorn, some more successfully than others, to promote universal messages of the value of independence and exercising the privilege to vote in elections.
Of course, Naperville Mayor George Pradel addressed the crowd in his inimitable style without amplification, clearly stating his heartfelt message about cherished freedom and democratic principles for all the hear.
“Welcome to Naperville!” Pradel began. “…As you are entertained today, remember the independence of your country, remember each other and remember those who have fought hard for independence. And we hope that today will be a special day for every one of you seated here. Long live independence!”
Following the national anthems and formal introductions, the main cultural part of the event started. Arrangements by Usha Pariti and Shree Guruswamy included Indian classical dance, chorus groups and a variety of other performances with opportunities for friendly fellowship in the crowd focused on Indian heritage.
At the end of the day of colorful pageantry, one of the organizers, Vasavi Chakka, provided a written statement.
“The celebrations brought back lots of sweet memories from childhood,” she wrote. “Growing up in a patriotic family—my grandfather was a Gandhi follower, and he sacrificed his entire life for India’s independence and the country— India’s Independence Day celebrations are very close to my heart. Seeing both American and Indian flags together as different cultures and nationalities come together to celebrate “unity and diversity,” singing both national anthems, makes me very proud to be part of the rich heritage of India as well as a citizen of a great nation, the USA.”
Chakka added, “I have seen the harmony of Universal brotherhood today, the vision I was taught and strongly believe in.”
During the festivities, representatives distributed hand-outs and other information about local Indian-American businesses. Vendor booths were managed by Dave Vasudevan, Suresh Khattar, M. Bhaskaran and others. Fifteen vendors provided a marketplace of fancy jewelry and Indian clothing as well as experts from mortgage, real estate and insurance companies. Three restaurants participated with an assortment of North Indian and South Indian cuisine.
This year’s India Independence Day festivities received support from the Naperville Indian Community Outreach, a board headed by Krishna Bansal, Lalvani added.
