Indian I-Day Celebrations In New York Tri-State Area Culminate In Guinness World Record

NEW YORK, Aug 16: India’s 80th Independence Day celebrations in the New York tri-state area culminated in a Guinness World Record, with more than 1,300 US flags surrounded by Indian Tricolours arranged to form the number “250” at Veterans Memorial Park in Parsippany, New Jersey.

The record for the “Largest Flagpole Number” was set on Saturday as part of a joint celebration of India’s 80th Independence Day and the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The event was organised by the Consulate General of India in New York in partnership with the Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-NE (FIA), with support from Indian technology company Zoho.

The organisers said the event, held at the intersection of “India@80 and America@250”, reflected India-US friendship and the Indian-American community’s contribution to strengthening ties between the two countries.

New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell, US Congresswoman Analilia Mejia, Consul General of India in New York Binaya Srikanta Pradhan and Parsippany Mayor Pulkit Desai addressed the gathering attended by Indian-American community members, elected representatives and business and community leaders.

The celebrations also included flag-hoisting ceremonies by the Indian Consulate in New York and the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations.

At Times Square, the Tricolour was unfurled during FIA’s annual celebration, which featured cultural performances highlighting India’s heritage.

Several US states issued proclamations declaring August 15 as “India Day”, while landmarks including the Empire State Building and Prudential Centre were illuminated in Tricolour colours.

FIA will host its 44th India Day Parade on Madison Avenue in Manhattan on Sunday, featuring floats, tableaux and cultural performances. (Agencies)