A float that honors a Hindu temple constructed on a demolished mosque in India that will be featured in Sunday’s India Day Parade in New York City is drawing criticism for being anti-Muslim.
India Day Parade in New York city organized by Federation of Indian Associations
The Ram Mandir float in the parade has drawn criticism from the Indian American Muslim Council and other religious organizations, who claim the temple is a symbol of the violence against Muslims in that country and the destruction of mosques.
The group and others wrote to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams earlier this month, stating that “this float presence represents these groups’ desire to combine Hindu nationalist ideology with Indian identity.” “This is a vulgar celebration of anti-Muslim heat, discrimination, and religious supremacy, not just a cultural show.”
The parade organizers, who have rejected pleas to remove the float said that it celebrates the inauguration of a religious landmark that is sacred to Hundreds of millions of Hindus.
“We absolutely reject violence and hate in any form, including any damage to any religious place of worship, as we celebrate what we consider to be a vital aspect of our faith through the celebration of the landmark,” said a statement from Ankur Vaidya, chairman of the Federation of Indian Associations, the organization putting on the event. “We support peaceful coexistence and urge everyone to uphold this principle.”
As a celebration of the “rich tapestry of India’s cultural diversity,” the association bills the parade, in which floats representing not just the Hindu but also the Muslim, Sikh, and Christian faiths have taken part over the years.
In his statement, Vaidya also mentioned that “Vasudev Kutumbakam,” which means “the world is one family” in Sanskrit, is this year’s parade theme.
Tens of thousands of people attend the 42nd annual event, which is one of the biggest of its type outside of India, to watch Bollywood stars and Indian sports stars participate in a rolling celebration along Madison Avenue in Manhattan. The yearly procession honors the August 15, 1947, declaration of India’s independence and the end of British rule.
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