New York, NY — The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA-NY-NJ-CT-NE) launched the countdown to its landmark 43rd India Day Parade with a dynamic and heartfelt curtain-raiser event at the Consulate General of India in New York. The evening began with a solemn tribute to victims of recent tragedies in Pahalgam and Ahmedabad, grounding the festivities in a shared moment of remembrance.
From this reflective opening, the event quickly ascended into a showcase of ambition, cultural pride, and innovation—with two major announcements poised to redefine not only the parade but the future of cricket in America.
The highlight of the evening came via massive LED displays as Indian film superstars Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna, widely known as India’s “National Crush,” greeted the audience in six languages—Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and English—revealing themselves as the Co-Grand Marshals for this year’s parade. Their pre-recorded message included a promise to walk the famed Madison Avenue route on August 17 and participate in Independence Day celebrations. Their address closed with an electrifying “Jai Hind!”
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The Consul General of India in New York, Hon. Ambassador Binaya S. Pradhan, opened the evening by hailing FIA’s enduring contribution to the Indian-American identity. “For half a century, the Federation of Indian Associations has been a force-multiplier for India’s image in America,” he declared. He urged FIA to preserve its signature events by copyrighting them for replication across the global Indian diaspora.
Deputy Consul General Vishal Harsh shared his admiration for FIA’s creativity, referencing last year’s Chandrayaan-3 and Ram Mandir floats, and praised the tricolor impact FIA has brought to NYC’s cultural calendar.
Cricket Comes to America – Boldly
A revolutionary announcement followed as Vinay Bhimjiani, CEO and founder of Cricmax Connect, took the stage to launch his platform as the title sponsor of this year’s Independence celebrations. His bold aim: make cricket as culturally entrenched in the U.S. as soccer—within ten years.
“Major League Cricket is only in its third season and already boasts investments from Microsoft and IPL giants like KKR and CSK,” said Bhimjiani. “Soon, Little League fields from Queens to Cupertino will resound with the crack of the bat.”
His ambitious rollout includes a July 14 exhibition match at L.A.’s iconic Coliseum—a preview of cricket’s 2028 Olympic return—and an immersive cricket experience during the parade itself. On August 17, a mini-pitch on Madison Avenue will invite families to take a swing, while real-time stats and coaching tips will stream through Cricmax’s new interactive app.
Joining him on stage, USA Cricket CEO Dr. Atul Rai described their partnership as “nation-building through sport.” Urging U.S. municipalities to repurpose baseball diamonds for cricket training, he stated, “Cricket is already the world’s second-most popular game. Let’s make it America’s newest obsession.”
FIA President Saurin Parikh introduced this year’s unifying theme, “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah”—A Global Initiative for Universal Well-being. “This is a healing message in turbulent times,” Parikh explained, unveiling a pastel-colored poster adorned with mandalas and peace symbols.
In a major step toward inclusivity, ethnic associations will be allowed to enter floats free of charge. “This parade isn’t pay-to-play; it’s pride-to-participate,” he declared.
Chairman Ankur Vaidya paid tribute to late Chairman Emeritus Ramesh Patel, reminding attendees that the curtain-raiser belongs to the community, not FIA. He reaffirmed FIA’s volunteer-driven logistics and teased new post-parade collaborations, including MOUs and a gala at Cipriani Wall Street.
The FIA Executive Committee offered rapid-fire updates underscoring the scale of the event.
Dr. Avinash Gupta, Immediate Past President, highlighted the parade’s continuous growth and encouraged all to subscribe to the Diaspora Bi-Weekly newsletter.
Haresh Shah, Joint Treasurer, confirmed the August 15 flag-hoisting at Times Square, and Mahesh Dubal, Joint Secretary, announced that the Empire State Building would be lit in India’s tricolor the same evening.
Deepak Goel, Vice President, revealed participation from Guyanese, Mauritian, and Réunion Island contingents, celebrating India’s global identity.
FIA Executive VP Smita Miki Patel unveiled plans for 18 youth performances built around the parade’s wellness theme.
Priti Ray Patel, Vice President, previewed the post-parade gala, promising cultural richness, including a city-wide “Gol Gappa Competition” to crown the pani-puri champion.
“This gala blends tradition with modern elegance,” noted Manan Saxena, Gala Convenor. “Expect New York’s longest Instagram-worthy dessert table brimming with Indian and global treats.”
State Bank of India (USA) Country Head Amit Verma reflected on the bank’s parallel journey with FIA. “We arrived in 1971, FIA was founded in 1970—our stories are braided together.”
With cricket’s explosive potential and the star power of Indian cinema now firmly in its corner, the FIA’s 43rd India Day Parade promises to be a cultural and sporting milestone. Madison Avenue is poised to transform into a living celebration of Indian identity—infused with saffron, white, green, and the crack of leather on willow.
Photo Credits: Jayesh Patel and Adnan Khawaja