Indian Community Outreach (ICO) in Naperville, IL, is celebrating India's 76th Independence Day with a special event, the India Day Parade & Celebration, on August 13th. This year is also significant as ICO celebrates its tenth anniversary since its launch on August 15th, 2013, by former Mayor Pradel. In less than a decade, the event has grown into the largest Indian American Celebration in the country, featuring a wide array of attractions. In 2022, it drew more than forty thousand attendees from across the USA, showcasing their affection for India, its culture, and its community.

The India Day Celebrations serve as a grand platform for Indian Americans to showcase their talents in art, dance, music, and culture. This day-long festivity captures the essence of a true festival, featuring elements like food, cultural displays, a parade, and music. The parade itself will feature more than 60 entries, including elaborately decorated floats, various community organizations, businesses, and prominent individuals. The event will also host over 30 booths showcasing products, a health fair offering pre-screening for common ailments, an international food court with delectable offerings from local and out-of-state vendors, and an ethnic Indian bazaar featuring fashion, clothing, and jewelry. 

The parade will also highlight the diverse cultures, dances, and distinctive features from more than 20 states of India. Following the parade, an all-day stage program will take place at Rotary Hill. The program will include a Local Talent Show, performances by emerging singers Vivek Agrawal and Madhuri Patibanda, as well as energetic DJ sets by DJ Salman and DJ Sajan Vadali.

The upcoming parade will be graced by the presence of international Bollywood sensation, Daler Mehndi, serving as the grand Marshal. As in previous editions, distinguished personalities including the Mayor of Naperville, the Consul General of India, Congressmen, Senators, Trustees, and other notable leaders from Chicago and Naperville are anticipated to participate in both the parade and the evening celebration.