Above & Below / The India Day Parade is set to return at 11AM on Sun., Aug. 10, 2025, with a warm welcome to recognize India’s independence. The colorful and festive parade will step off from Naperville Central High School. As the event nears, more details will become available. (PN File Photos)
Indian Community Outreach Report
Indian Community Outreach (ICO) today announced that, after careful consideration, the organization will scale back its 2025 India Day Celebrations due to new public safety and event compliance requirements issued by the City of Naperville.
While ICO will continue with its iconic India Day Parade beginning at 11AM on Sun., Aug. 10, 2025, starting from Naperville Central High School, the nonprofit organization will cancel the Rotary Hill day-long cultural festival and the evening concert—two beloved elements of the event that have drawn tens of thousands of attendees annually for the past decade.
“This was not an easy decision,” said Krishna Bansal, Chairman of Indian Community Outreach. “India Day has become a cornerstone event in Naperville, celebrating diversity, culture, and community. However, the new city mandates—requiring full park fencing, metal detectors, a clear bag policy, additional security layers, changes to cost-sharing and other significantly increased costs —have created an significantly large financial burden exceeding $150,000. As a small nonprofit without reserve funding, we simply cannot absorb these additional expenses.”
The new security measures also reduce available space traditionally reserved for event sponsors, further limiting the ICO’s ability to offset event costs through partnerships.
“We explored scaled-down options and alternate funding,” added Bansal, “but moving forward with the Rotary Hill programming under these constraints would put our organization at serious financial risk.”
Since its inception, India Day has served as a cultural and economic highlight for Naperville, positioning the city as a nationally and internationally recognized, vibrant, and inclusive destination. Over the last 10 years, the celebration has showcased Indian-American contributions to Naperville, supported local businesses, and brought together communities through music, food, and tradition.
ICO remains committed to serving the community and is considering an alternate event later in the year. The organization also reaffirms its intent to return with full India Day programming in 2026 and beyond.
“We are incredibly grateful to the City of Naperville, our volunteers, sponsors, and the thousands of families who make India Day special every year,” said Bansal. “While this year’s celebration will look different, our spirit and mission remain unchanged.”
For updates and parade details, visit www.indiancommunityoutreach.org or follow ICO on social media.
Indian Community Outreach (ICO)
Indian Community Outreach is a nonprofit organization based out in Naperville area committed to promoting cultural awareness, civic engagement, and community service through events, education, and public partnerships in the United Sates.
