FIA curtain-raiser sets stage for historic 43rd India Day Parade, NYC

Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna named co-grand marshals, and Cricmax Connect launches ambitious cricket revolution in the USA

The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA-NY-NJ-CT-NE) opened its curtain-raiser event at the Consulate General of India in New York with a moment of solemn reflection, honoring victims of recent tragedies from Pahalgam to Ahmedabad. This tribute set the stage for the evening's central theme, "Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah" - A Global Initiative for universal Well-being—a Sanskrit blessing that would resonate throughout the night as FIA unveiled plans for its 43rd India Day Parade in NYC. The evening delivered two major announcements that will reshape both the parade and the future of cricket in America.

The evening's crescendo arrived via massive LED screens as Indian cinema icons Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna greeted the audience. Their message of this year's India Day festivities theme was announced in six languages-Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and English-revealing them as co-Grand Marshals of the 43rd India Day Parade in NYC. Both stars pledged to march along Madison Avenue in New York City on August 17 and to take part in India’s Independence Day ceremonies, signing off with a resounding “Jai Hind!”

Hon. Ambassador Binaya S. Pradhan, Consul General of India in NY, opened the evening by acknowledging FIA's extraordinary journey. "For half a century, the Federation of Indian Associations has been a force-multiplier for India's image in America," he told the standing-room crowd. Hon. Consul General urged FIA to copyright its signature ideas to enable scaling "without dilution" across other diaspora hubs, applauding the parade's evolution from a modest one float parade march in 1981 to what the mega event it has turned out to be and which the media now celebrates as the world's largest India Day celebration.

Deputy Consul General Vishal Harsh amplified the praise, recalling last year's impressive Chandrayaan-3 and Ram Mandir float being his favorite memories from the parade. "New York now measures cultural spectacle in tricolors," he quipped, pledging continued consulate's full support for the upcoming festivities and appealed to the community to turn out in large numbers and continue the Bharat tradition.

Cricmax Connect founder and CEO Vinay Bhimjiani announced their launch and its unprecedented role as title sponsor for the entire Independence anniversary celebrations. Bhimjiani's audacious vision captured the room's attention: making cricket as mainstream as soccer in the United States within the next decade.

"Major League Cricket is barely in its third season and already has Microsoft money plus equity from IPL powerhouses KKR and CSK," Bhimjiani declared to an enthusiastic crowd. "Imagine when Little League parks from Queens to Cupertino echo with the sound of leather on willow."

The Cricmax Connect rollout timeline is nothing short of aggressive. On July 14, the platform will stage the first-ever cricket exhibition inside the iconic L.A. Coliseum, serving as a dress rehearsal for cricket's Olympic return in 2028. Come parade day on August 17 in madison avenue, a mini-pitch on Madison Avenue will allow families to pick up a bat between floats, while interactive touch-screens will stream real-time analytics from Cricmax's innovative coaching app.

"We are not importing marquee names for a selfie," Bhimjiani emphasized. "We're growing home-grown talent and making the diaspora our venture capital."

Dr. Atul Rai, CEO of USA Cricket, joined Bhimjiani on stage, framing their partnership as nation-building through sport. Dr. Rai, who first picked up a bat at age five in India before steering USA Cricket's growth since 2000, urged city councils to open dormant baseball diamonds for weekend cricket clinics. "Cricket is already the world's second-largest game. Let's make it America's newest obsession," he declared.

Axria's Chandra Mohan & Sreekanth Akkapalli also joined the inaugural announcements as grand sponsors and expressed their commitment through a long term vision with FIA.  

FIA Chairman Ankur Vaidya opened his remarks with a poignant moment of silence for former Chairman Emeritus Ramesh Patel, emphasizing that the curtain-raiser tradition "belongs to the community-FIA merely facilitates." Vaidya confirmed that all parade logistics would remain volunteer-driven and hinted at "significant new collaborations" to be revealed post-parade including corporate MOUs and FIA's choice of Manhattan's iconic and very upscale Gala venue, Cipriani.

FIA President Saurin Parikh unveiled this year's theme "Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah"— A Global Initiative for Universal Well-being -describing it as a healing call amid global turbulence. The pastel-hued poster, dotted with mandalas and peace glyphs, will headline all parade materials. In a groundbreaking move toward inclusivity, ethnic associations may enter floats free of charge for the first time. "This parade isn't pay-to-play; it's pride-to-participate," Saurin Parikh declared.

 

The FIA Executive Committee delivered rapid-fire operational updates that showcased the organization's impressive reach.  FIA Immediate Past President, Dr. Avinash Gupta emphasized the growing scale of the celebration, noting that "every year it gets bigger and better" He urged community members to stay connected through FIA's Diaspora Bi-Weekly newsletter, which delivers updates directly to subscribers' mailboxes, encouraging them to spread the word among family and friends about the largest India Day Parade outside India. FIA Joint Treasurer, Haresh Shah confirmed the Indian flag-hoisting in Times Square at 8 a.m. on August 15, while FIA Joint Secretary, Mahesh Dubal announced the Empire State Building's tricolor illumination that same evening. Deepak Goel, FIA Vice President, revealed cultural contingents from Guyana, Mauritius, and Reunion Island will participate, underscoring the parade's global Indian identity.

FIA Executive Vice President, Smita Miki Patel announced eighteen youth performances choreographed around the "Sarve Bhavantu" motif. FIA Vice President, Priti Ray Patel detailed the post-parade Independence grand gala at Cipriani Wall Street and a "Gol Gappa Competition" to crown the city's pani-puri champion. FIA’s upcoming gala will fuse timeless tradition with modern elegance, offering a holistic celebration of community unity and culture,” said Manan Saxena, FIA Gala Convenor. “Expect New York’s longest, Instagram-worthy dessert table brimming with Indian and global delicacies—an experience everyone will want to mark on their calendars.  

Amit Verma, Country Head for State Bank of India (USA), celebrated the institution's parallel journey with FIA: "FIA was founded in 1970, SBI arrived in 71-our stories are braided together."

With cricket's revolutionary potential and celebrity star power now aligned, FIA's 43rd India Day Parade in NYC is positioned to transform Madison Avenue-and perhaps America's sporting landscape—in saffron, white, and green. The countdown to August 17, 2025, has officially begun.

(All photos couresy: FIA-NY-NJ-CT-NE)