Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda, popular film stars, will participate in the India Day Parade

As part of this year's Independence Day celebrations in New York, film stars Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda will participate in the 43rd India Day Parade to be held on August 14. Preparations for the parade were discussed at the Indian Consulate by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA).

The meeting began with a tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.

Massive LED boards lit up with images of Rashmika, referred to as "India’s beloved actress", and Deverakonda, while welcome messages were heard in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and English.

Consul General Binaya S. Pradhan highlighted FIA's contributions to preserving Indian-American identity.

This year’s title sponsor, CrickMax Connect, announced by CEO Vinay Bhimjiani, aims to make cricket as popular as soccer in the U.S. On July 14, a celebration will be held at the Los Angeles Coliseum to mark cricket's return to the 2028 Olympics.

USA Cricket CEO Dr. Atul Rai stated that the theme for this year is the role of sports in nation-building.

FIA President Saurin Parekh announced that this year’s official theme is “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah” ("May all be happy").

Joint Treasurer Harish Shah informed that the Indian flag will be hoisted at Times Square on August 15, and the Empire State Building will be illuminated entirely in tricolor lights that day.