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Since 2006, Swamibapa Pipe Band has been invited to play in one of the three main India Day Parades that take place each year in the United States to celebrate India’s independence. This year, the band had the honor of leading the India Day Parade in Edison, New Jersey – one of America’s largest Indian-populated cities – on Sunday, August 8th, 2010.

Over 35,000 people from all over the country had gathered to watch the parade, which featured twenty-five floats, three marching bands, and hundreds of marchers proudly displaying the tricolor and Indian pride. This year’s Grand Marshall was Bollywood actress Malika Sherawat. The parade took place on the well-known Oak Tree Road, one of the main streets in Edison that is lined with dozens of Indian shops and restaurants. Parade organizers from the Indian Business Association and local police officers agreed this was the largest parade in the parade’s six-year history.

In addition to leading the parade, Swamibapa Pipe Band had the privilege of playing the Indian national anthem in front of the Parade Grandstand.  This performance was broadcasted live on many Indian television channels. The parade was a very successful event for the pipe band, and disciples of Shree Swaminarayan Temple New Jersey were very pleased to be able to represent Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan at such a large event.