More than 38,000 march at India Day parade in Edison, New Jersey

A 110 member Chinese band, Falum Da Fa, stole the hearts at the 11th annual official New Jersey India Day Parade on Oak Tree Road in Edison. Official estimates place the attendance at 38,000.  

The Falun Da Fa or Falun Gong, is a spiritual group of the Buddha School, which is banned in China. Its practitioners are persecuted by the government, but gets the support of the US. Earlier also they marched in the parade.

The parade, organized by the Indian Business Association (IBA) commenced in Edison and concluded on India Square, in Iselin.  The parade route, more than a mile long, was filled with spectators, in many instances three and four rows deep.

The largest parade to date, the festivities included marching bands, over 20 floats and dozens of walking groups.  

Six Bollywood stars, including talk show host Rich Anirudh and “Calendar Girls” Avani Modi, attended the parade.  Rounding out the galaxy of celebrities were Prachee Shah, Madalsa Sherma, Sameksha Singh, and Sujata Mehta.

They were joined by an assortment of state wide elected officials, including Congressman Frank Pallone, State Senators Ray Lesniak and Sam Thompson, Assemblypersons Craig Coughlin, Patrick Diegnan, and Nancy Pinkin, Middlesex County Freeholder Ken Armwood, and Newark councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield-Jenkins.  

Leading the political delegation were Edison Mayor Tom Lankey and Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac.

The highlights included the floats by the Edison Democrat Organization, Air India, TV Asia, Oxigen, Investors Bank, and the SriVari Balaji Temple. Over 100 New Jersey based organizations participated. There were several dance groups as well.  

 â€œThe success of today’s parade is due to the efforts of many, including our sponsors and volunteers” said Dhiren Amin, president of IBA.  â€œThis was so amazing, a real tribute to India” added Ms. Anirudh.  Ms. Modi commented that she realized that “no matter where Indian immigrate to, they continue to be filled with passion for India.” 

Another unique feature of the parade was the Young Entrepreneurial Society, a new subchapter of IBA.  â€œThey are our future, we a building for tomorrow” explained Chandrakant Patel, Chairman for IBA.  A cultural program featuring local artists followed the parade. “We need to promote our local talent.  New Jersey is filled with young talented artists” added Manher Shah, IBA trustee.

Oak Tree Road is an internationally known business district filled with Indian stores and restaurants.  Mahesh Shah, IBA trustee, described the area as “our Time Square”   Asian Indians account for 12.93% of the Middlesex County's total population.