New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, attended the India Day Parade in Queens, one of several such celebrations around the Big Apple. August 15th marked India’s 80th Independence Day and Indian Americans around the country have been holding events to celebrate their heritage as well as encourage stronger US-India relations. The Floral Park, Queens Parade was organized by the Floral Park-Bellerose Indian Merchants Association.
“Today, I was back in Floral Park for the Queens India Day Parade — this time as the first Indian American mayor of New York City,” Mamdani tweeted. “It was an experience I will never forget.”
He recalled one of his predecessors saying, “Mayor David Dinkins once described our city as a gorgeous mosaic. Today, I saw that mosaic in the Hindus and Christians, Muslims and Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs across the Indian diaspora who have helped make our city what it is. To all of them, I say: it is an honor to do that work alongside you. Happy Indian Independence Day!”