India Day Parade prominently features Ayodhya Ram Mandir float, despite voices of opposition
Despite opposition from some US-based organizations, a carnival float featuring the Ram Mandir from Ayodhya was included in the India Day Parade in New York City on August 18, 2024.
The float, showcasing the temple consecrated earlier this year in Ayodhya, was decorated with garlands as members of the Indian diaspora in traditional attire danced and celebrated on the streets of New York City. The inclusion of the Ram Mandir float had stirred controversy in the days leading up to the parade, with several groups condemning it as anti-Muslim and calling for its removal.
Organizations such as the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Indian American Muslim Council, and Hindus for Human Rights sent a letter to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul, criticizing the float for glorifying the destruction of the Babri mosque and labeling it as an expression of Hindu nationalist ideology.
In response, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, responsible for organizing the float, defended it as a representation of a significant Hindu place of worship and an important aspect of Indian and Hindu identity. The Hindu American Foundation supported the float as an exercise in free speech.
The Federation of Indian Associations, which organized the parade, emphasized that the event was meant to celebrate India's diverse cultural heritage, featuring floats from various communities. The parade, held three days after India’s Independence Day, included over 40 floats, 50 marching groups, and numerous cultural performances, with Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha serving as the grand marshal.
During the parade, the Ram Mandir float, crafted from wood and adorned with flowers, drew significant attention. It moved along Madison Avenue, accompanied by patriotic and religious music. Despite the controversy, the parade highlighted India's cultural diversity and the unity of its diaspora in celebrating their heritage.