“Happy Independence Day!” a parade walker called out Sunday as thousands of people lined the streets of Naperville. “Happy Independence Day!”
But it wasn’t the Fourth of July — that parade was last month. And while American flags waved in the wind, Indian flags did as well. There were also women wearing saris, Indian dancers and singers.
“It makes people so patriotic and brings out the roots of where we are from,” said Jayashree Sarathy, a volunteer with the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple in Aurora, whose intricately decorated float was splashed with orange, green and white — the colors of the India flag. “I’ve lived in this country now 30 years, but still when I come here, it makes me feel proud of where I’m from.”
The annual India Day Parade and Festival brought huge crowds to Naperville for the daylong celebration of Aug. 15, 1947, the day India won its freedom from British rule.
An estimated 5,000 people attended the parade, while as many as 30,000 were expected at Rotary Hill for the headlining musical act, Shankar Mahadevan of Bollywood fame, organizers said. The park was also packed with Indian food and clothing vendors and other activities, the festival an annual Naperville gathering since 2015.
“This lets people understand who we are, a peace-loving country, here to participate in the economy, culture and social activities,” said Vinod Vasisth, a board member of Indian Community Outreach, which hosts the event. “The whole idea is to bring everybody together.”
The parade was interactive, with calls and responses from float riders and crowd members. The energy was electric.
“This is incredible. Just look around,” said Somnath Ghosh, counsel general for India in Chicago, motioning toward the jubilant celebration on Mill Street. “It shows a love for independence and freedom.”
A reporter from TV Asia broadcast nearby.
“I always come and watch even if I don’t participate,” said Shanmugaprakash Natarjan, of the Tamil Nadu Foundation. “It’s a fun thing to make people aware of things happening in the Indian culture.”
His organization’s float featured 100 women wearing colorful saris, a traditional, robe-like garment.
“It’s really important to have cultural awareness in general, so it’s really nice that the city of Naperville has a parade dedicated solely to India,” said Ananya Sampathkumar, 18, of Naperville.
“It brings the community together and also influences the way people think about us, gives them a better understanding of what the community is about and what this day is about for us,” said Kalpana Subramanian, of Davenport, Iowa.
“It’s one of the most amazing things to happen so many miles away from India,” said Krishnan Iyer, of Chennai, India, who was in town visiting friends. “It’s too good.”
Giles Bruce is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
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