New York, September 13, 2022 — A felicitation event was held in New York in recognition of the Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT-NE celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – marking 75 years of Indian Independence.
At the occasion Consul General of India in New York Hon. Randhir Jaiswal inaugurated the Jaipur foot camp, which will be held in the 1st week of January 2023 in the 2 states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The camp will provide more than a thousand free of cost artificial foot limbs to the needy.
Present at the occasion were FIA Convenor Prem Bhandari who is also the Chairman of Jaipur foot. He felicitated and congratulated the FIA’s leadership for rising up to the call of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence globally.
FIA held grand and historic events to mark the occasion. The Indian Diaspora were made proud as the Indian National Flag was hoisted at Times Square, New York City and the Iconic Empire State Building was lit up in the Tricolors on 15th August – the day of Indian Independence. Same day thousands watched the aerial display of the 220-ft Khadi Indian Tricolor over the Hudson River. The Chief Guests at all the three occasions were Rockstar Devi Sri Prasad, more popularly known as DSP, and famous singer and music director Shankar Mahadevan.
On 21 August FIA successfully registered 2 Guinness World Records for the largest number of different flags flown simultaneously and the largest ensemble of Damaru – ancient musical instruments. The famous singer Kailash Kher was the lead conductor for the second attempt. FIA dedicated the record to the global community.
The India Day Parade on 21 August witnessed a massive turnout of over 200 hundred thousand as the Grand Marshal – Pan India Superstar Allu Arjun led the parade with Chief Guests – Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbados, Mayor of New York City Eric Adams and Prem Bhandari.
Guru Prakash Rana of Jaipur foot, who is currently in USA, also graced the event with his presence.
FIA’s Chairman Ankur Vaidya, President Kenny Desai, Immediate Past President Anil Bansal and Past President Alok Kumar were felicitated by Prem Bhandari with flower bouquets.