Indian Community Outreach and The City of Naperville will host an India Day Parade and Celebration beginning at 2PM on Sun., Aug. 16, marking the 69th anniversary of India’s independence. Spectators will want to line up along Center Street as it leads to Central Park.
The parade will showcase India’s rich and diverse culture, with several floats organized by Indian cultural, business and political organizations. Central Park with host an exhibit of Indian cuisine, ethnic arts, apparel and jewelry.
This event is distinguished as the first India Day Parade backed by any city in the Midwest.
Festivities have been organized by the Indian Community Outreach Organization (ICO) in association with the Alliances of Midwest Indian Association and the City of Naperville. ICO is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization aiming to preserve and promote the cultural heritage and contributions of Indian Americans while promoting their integration in the growth of Naperville. Chairman Krishna Bansal was appointed by and reports to the Mayor of Naperville.
“Indian Americans are now a significant part of Naperville’s population in both numbers and impact,” Bansal said, noting enthusiasm for the new event.
The community has witnessed dramatic growth since the nineties, now comprising ten percent of the suburb’s total population. Moreover, with the recent influx of information technology workers and other professionals from India, more than 70 percent are first generation immigrants.
Several South Asian community leaders, restaurants, businesses and cultural organizations have come forward to support the event. While Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico and Consul General of India will be chief guest, Mayor Emeritus George Pradel will be the Parade Marshal.
According to Nimish Bhatt, Vice Chairman of ICO, the cultural celebration in Central Park will be an opportunity for local businesses and groups to partner, participate and gain visibility.
Indian-Americans have been contributing greatly in the field of business, medicine, information technology and as the leaders of large corporations, Bansal added.
In addition, Naperville will continue its tradition of celebrating India’s Independence Day by raising U.S. and India’s Flag from 9-10 on Aug. 15 at the Naperville Municipal Center.
For more information about India Day festivities, visit www.napervilleindian.com.
