India Post News Service

CHICAGO: The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) in Chicagoland is living up to its reputation as the most premiere umbrella organization of Indian Americans here the way its top brass has chalked out a program to celebrate the 60th Indian Independence day in the second week of August.Besides the usual flag hoisting at Daley Plaza in Chicago Downtown and presenting a small cultural program on August 15 under the chairmanship of Dr Ram Gajella, the FIA has planned taking out one of the best India Day Parades on Devon Avenue- the heart of Indian Pakistani business- on Sunday August 18 at 12 noon.Iftekhar Shareef told India Post that the highlight would be the presence of globally famous Indian American astronaut Sunita William, noted Indian film actress of yesteryears Mausmi Chatterjee and ever popular charismatic Illinois Governor , Rod Blagojevich besides a good number of local, State and Federal level politicians and dignitaries.

He said that efforts are afoot to get Priyanka Chopra, one of the top notch Indian film heroines, from the current crop. Added attraction, if it works out, will be offering free food to all participating in the Parade. But even without free food, the FIA has another grand attraction in organizing a one and half day Mela at Warren Park after the Parade.

This is being organized under the chairmanship of Balwidner Singh, a prominent community leader. The prime attraction would be a free entertainment program by local artists as well as from a group of artists coming in from India- Vijyalakshmi and her associates. There would be twenty booths - food, artifacts, boutiques, jewelry and a few other things.The Parade attraction would also be well decorated 40 plus floats depicting Indian culture besides reflecting a great diversity of Indian organizations and businesses.

"We have already 20 floats registered and likely to add 20 more. We will not exceed 40 floats number," Shareef said. FIA has also organized a dinner banquet under the chairmanship of Naren Patel, a community activist at Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows on Friday August 17 at 7 pm.