Anna Hazare, Vidya Balan Lead Biggest NY India Day Parade

By Indiawest

NEW YORK: India’s anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare and Bollywood actress Vidya Balan led the largest Indian Independence Day celebrations overseas, with over 200,000 people carrying the tricolor witnessing an impressive parade here which displayed India’s vibrant culture.

Colorful floats, marching bands and convertibles made their way down Madison Avenue in Manhattan with revelers cheering Hazare and Balan.

“Anna Hazare Zindabad,” “Corruption Down Down” rent the air of Manhattan as the veteran Gandhian rode past the crowd, most of them Indian Americans, in the annual India Day Parade organized by the Federation of Indian Associations.

The 76-year-old Hazare was cheered loudly at every intersection by large numbers of people while the fragile khadi-clad Gandhian waved from his vehicle that had to be stopped at several intersections, with people rushing to shake hands with him.

“I’ve never seen something as wonderful and heartwarming,” said Balan, the parade’s grand marshal.

Attendees waved the tricolor at Hazare and shouted that they stood by him in his crusade against corruption.

Hundreds of parade goers were clad in orange, green and white with Gandhi caps written with, “I Am for Anna,” to demonstrate their support to Hazare, whose anti-corruption crusade has inspired thousands at home and abroad.

Hazare was an instant hit among Americans too who had come in large numbers to see the man who took the Indian government head on single-handedly following the teachings of ahimsa propounded by his mentor Mahatma Gandhi.

The New York Police Department had a tough time in controlling the surging unprecedented crowd. Balan drew huge crowds as people on both sides of Madison Avenue cheered her when she traveled in the FIA float along with FIA president Sanjay Amin, New York Consul General Dnyaneshwar Mulay and former Indian Army Chief General V.K. Singh, as well as leaders of the Indian American community.

Balan gave flying kiss to her thronging fans that went berserk on seeing her; the fans had to be cleared by mild force near the review stand where the guests of honor assembled to deliver their speeches.
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