More than 2,000 people came to enjoy the India Day Parade held for the first time in Seattle August 16, 2025. The 79th Independence Day celebrations, were organized by the Consulate General of India in Seattle, in partnership with the City, turning downtown Seattle. It showcased the rich cultures of all 28 states in India. An India Pavilion that put-on display ODOP (One District One Product) of each state and union territory of India.
Several dignitaries joined India’s Consul General Prakash Gupta, at the event as Guests of Honour, including Mayor of Seattle Bruce Harrell, US Congressman Adam Smith, Seattle Port Commissioner Sam Cho, Seattle Parks & Recreation Superintendent/Director A P Diaz, King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, US Coast Guard’s Northwest District Commander Rear Admiral Arex Avanni, Washington Supreme Court Justice Steven Gonzalez, along with Mayors of Mercer Island, Normandy Park, Sammamish and North Bend.
The inaugural ceremony began with a prayer invocation from the Vedas, followed by flag hoisting of India and national anthems of India and the United States.
A cultural performance, Natyam: A Dance Mosaic of Bharat, showcased the diverse dance traditions from across India.
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Consul General Gupta, along with the Mayor, and other participating dignitaries ceremonially flagged off the India Day Parade, with tricolor balloons rising in the sky and marking the start of the procession.
Mayor Harell welcomed the opening of the new Indian Consulate in Seattle as a landmark development and attributed the technological reputation of the city to the contributions of Indian Americans. It was an honor to host the Parade, he said, adding that US needs to learn India’s message of love, compassion and non-violence.
Congressman Smith, in his address, emphasized that peace and security across the globe are of paramount importance, noting that the United States has no better partner in working towards those goals than India.
The Indian Consulate estimated that “thousands” of Indian-Americans from across all States of India took part in the parade through floats and performances. Each float highlighted the unique culture, languages, and art forms of that region.
Each float and performance was coordinated by community groups led by prominent Indian-American community leaders. The Washington Telangana Association was the community lead, with other highlights including Gujarat’s Garba, Maharashtra’s spirited Lavani folk dance, Andhra Pradesh’s graceful Kuchipudi, Odisha’s Boita Bandana with Vande Utkala Janani, and West Bengal’s float depicting the values of Swami Vivekananda.
Alongside the States and regional representations, thematic performances included Indian heritage arts, which displayed traditional paintings created by young Indian-Americans, and Gurukul, which celebrated India’s linguistic diversity, and an energetic performance by Beats of Washington depicting the valour and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji among many others.
A major attraction was the “India Pavilion,” where more than 30 booths were set up to represent the 28 States of India along with several thematic exhibits. Each booth had distinctive One District One Product (ODOP) items, accompanied by descriptions highlighting their cultural and historical significance. Attendees also got to sample regional culinary specialties and checking out cultural artifacts.