India Day parade graced with superb weather

by editor2
August 16th, 2006

Sunday’s India Day Parade drew tens of thousands of participants and spectators, parade organizers said.“We think there were anywhere from 25,000 to 30,000 people, including people watching on the sidelines, those participating in it, as well as the many people waiting at the parade’s end,” said Mahesh Shah, the president of the Indian Business Association. “We had more people than last year, and the good weather helped us a lot.”

The parade, now in its third year, is an annual event held to celebrate India’s independence from British rule in 1947.

For the past two years, it has been organized by the IBA, an organization representing a number of businesses along Oak Tree Road.

Shah was still out on the parade route overseeing the clean-up at 10 p.m. on Sunday night. At that point, he planned to keep working until at least 1 a.m.

“I will go around and make sure everything is cleaned up and then go home,” he said.

Shah said that they had “good cooperation” from both the Edison and Woodbridge police and fire departments.

“We had started a little late, since one of the floats had problems, and we were delayed by 15 to 20 minutes at the beginning,” he said. “As a result, the police and fire departments let us extend the program by 20 minutes to half an hour. They were very accommodating.”

“We didn’t hear any reports of demonstrations, and it was a very nonviolent, peaceful and fun day,” he added.

IBA Communications Director Satish Poondi, Edison Mayor Jun Choi and Woodbridge Interim Mayor Joseph F. Vitale marched at the head of the parade. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) also attended. He stood on a float midway in the procession.

Source : http://ws.gmnews.com/news/2006/0816/Front_Page/005.html