Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Aug 15: Boston's iconic Prudential Center was illuminated in the Indian tricolour for the first time as the Foundation of Indian Americans New England (FIA New England) marked India's 80th Independence Day with its fifth International India Day Parade and Freedom Festival.
The celebrations were held at the historic Boston Harbor, with organisers saying the tricolour illumination transformed Boston's skyline into a symbol of the growing partnership between India and the United States.
The event also received a message from Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, who congratulated FIA New England president Abhishek Singh and extended his greetings to the organisation's officials, volunteers and members of the Indian diaspora.
Shah said the parade celebrated Indian culture, democratic values and the strong friendship between India and the US, while helping Indians living abroad remain connected with their cultural heritage.
He highlighted India's cultural legacy, democratic traditions and the ideal of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", meaning "the world is one family", saying they conveyed a message of unity, peace and coexistence.
The minister said members of the Indian diaspora were strengthening cultural, economic and social ties between India and the US through their work, talent and values. Such events, he added, also helped younger generations connect with India's civilisation, culture and national ideals.
Shah said India was building a new global identity under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, drawing on its cultural heritage, democratic values and international cooperation.
He added that the government was continuously strengthening engagement, cultural links and development partnerships with the Indian diaspora worldwide under the vision of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" and "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat".
The parade was inaugurated by Raghuram S., Consul General of India in Boston. Maggie Lemay of the US Navy and Retired Indian Army Colonel Inderpreet Singh served as grand marshals, while community leaders Ram Gupta and Meetu Gupta also led the procession.
The event featured colourful floats showcasing India's cultural diversity and the shared values of India and the US. An American veterans' band and a Marathi Dhol-Tasha group added music and energy to the procession.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued proclamations recognising August 15 as India Day. FIA New England said this was the fifth consecutive year that the occasion had received such recognition.
The procession travelled through India Street, a historic part of Boston associated with the city's early maritime trade links with India. Organisers said the route highlighted how commerce, people and ideas had connected India and the US across centuries.
Boston Harbor is also closely associated with the Boston Tea Party of 1773, the protest against British taxation that became a defining episode in the movement that eventually led to American independence.
The Prudential Center, one of Boston's most recognisable skyscrapers, joined a growing tradition of prominent buildings and public landmarks being illuminated in the Indian tricolour to mark Independence Day in cities with sizeable Indian diaspora communities.