Thousands Celebrate Indian Heritage at the Queens India Day Parade

 

The Queens India Day Parade, organized by the Floral Park–Bellerose Indian Merchants Association (FBIMA) Inc., brought together thousands of community members for a vibrant celebration of Indian culture, heritage, and unity.

The organization’s leadership included President Dincil George, Chairman of the Board Thomas Koshy, and Parade Chairman Dr. Hari Shukla. Bollywood actresses Sarnaya Anand and Kashishh Rajput served as the parade’s Grand Marshals.

 

Participants assembled near Langdale Street and Hillside Avenue before proceeding along Hillside Avenue from 268th Street to Little Neck Parkway. The colorful procession featured five floats, approximately 15 Indian organizations from Queens and Long Island, a police mounted unit, a police band, and an impressive collection of exotic cars.

A stage was set up at the northwest corner of Hillside Avenue and Little Neck Parkway, where dignitaries and invited guests addressed the gathering. The cultural program included 12 dance performances and several musical presentations showcasing India’s rich artistic traditions.

 

Among the dignitaries in attendance were Congressman Tom Suozzi; New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani; NYC Comptroller Mark Levine; State Assemblymember Edward Braunstein; State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages; former NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams; Queens Borough President Donovan Richards; North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena; Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava; NYC Council Member Shekar Krishnan; and NYC Council Member Linda Lee. Several candidates in upcoming elections also attended the celebration.

 

More than 3,000 marchers and spectators participated in or witnessed the parade, while over 4,000 additional viewers watched the festivities live on YouTube.

The successful event reflected the strength and diversity of the Indian American community and created a memorable celebration of culture, community spirit, and national pride in Queens.