Billed by organizers as the largest India Day Parade in the world,

Billed by organizers as the largest India Day Parade in the world, the festivities August 17 on Madison Avenue celebrated the country’s 68th Independence Day, observed on August 15. President Ankur Vaidya of the Federation of Indian Associations of New York, which organized the event, told Desi Talk that according to NYPD estimates, over 200,000 attended the parade and cultural programs. In addition, the publication’s Bhargavi Kulkarni reports, people in over 40 countries, as well as over 3 million Indian Americans were able to watch it on TV.

Held since 1981, the parade saw over 40 floats and 25 walking groups and bands joining the march between 23rd and 38th streets. Kulkarni points out some of those marching as tricolor flags waved and popular Bollywood songs blasted in the background:

One marcher was dressed as Mahatma Gandhi, complete with walking stick, while a float in the parade featured a replica of the 1 World Trade Centre tower linked by a bridge to a miniature Taj Mahal. “Bringing America and India together,” the float read. “United we stand.’

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Public Advocate Letitia James joined NYPD, FDNY and EMS units in representing the city. Festivities also included a street fair with food stalls, as well as dance performances at Madison Square Park.

Of the many Indian celebrities in attendance, two notable faces were Vivek Ranadivé, the majority owner of the Sacramento Kings, and Sim Bhullar, the first NBA player of Indian descent, who signed with the Kings on, coincidentally, August 15. Desi Talk/News India Times goes into more detail on the growing relationship between the NBA and India, as well as the numerous other diverse events in Manhattan and the tristate area celebrating India Day, in the full article.