New York
The Indian diaspora living in America celebrated India’s independence day with great pomp on Sunday. The 42nd India Day Parade was organized on this occasion in New York, but a controversy arose over a tableau taken out in this ceremony. Indian American Muslims called this tableau anti-Muslim and demanded its removal. However, the organizers rejected this demand and this tableau was included in the parade in a grand manner. This tableau is of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, which was inaugurated in a grand ceremony in January this year.
Muslims protested
A group representing Indian American Muslims had withdrawn its tableau from the India Day Parade in protest against the inclusion of the Ram Mandir tableau. Imtiaz Siamwala, president of Indian Muslims of North America, informed the parade organisers about this by sending a letter on Saturday. The group wrote, ‘With a heavy heart, we are forced to withdraw our tableau as questions are being raised on the integrity of the parade.’
Siamwala told American news network CNN that his organization had tried to persuade the organizers not to include the controversial tableau, but failed. After this, it was decided to cancel the participation. He said, ‘We wanted to participate, but when we came to know that there was going to be a tableau with a replica of Ram temple, we felt that it was a symbol of bias against Muslims.’
Organizing a grand parade
A grand parade was held on Sunday amid the controversy over the tableau. The streets of New York lit up with the colors of India as it passed through Madison Avenue. Thousands of people gathered to celebrate their heritage. The parade, which celebrated India’s culture and history, showed the deep connection between the diaspora and their roots. A wooden boat measuring 18 feet long, 9 feet wide and 8 feet high was prepared for the Ram Mandir tableau. It was built in India and sent via air cargo for the parade. The boat showed the grand pink sandstone Ram Mandir built for Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
The Ram temple was decorated with flowers. A replica of the statue of Ram Laga unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Prana Pratishtha was also placed on the boat. According to the Federation of Indian Associations, the parade included more than 40 tableaux, 50 marching groups and 30 marching bands. Celebrities like MP Manoj Tiwari, Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha and actor Pankaj Tripathi also participated in the India Day parade.
