Indians in America celebrated Independence Day with India Day parades in seven major cities, with a call against corruption in their homeland, in support of social activist Anna Hazare.
India Day parades were organised on Sunday in Washington DC, New Jersey, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles and San Francisco by India Against Corruption (IAC) and People for Loksatta (PFL), which had initiated Dandi March-II, a 240 mile (386 km) walk in support of Hazare in March.
At the biggest event in New Jersey, some 180 people wearing white T-shirts and Gandhi caps and waving the Indian national flag walked along Oak Tree Road in pouring rain shouting slogans like "We Want Jan Lokpal", "I Am Anna", "Anna, We Are With You" and "Anna Hazare - Desh Tere Saath Hai!, Videsh Tere Saath Hai!".
Many volunteers carried placards saying - "I am Anna" and "It is not one Anna. We are Thousands" in English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi and other Indian languages.
Young and old from all walks of life, technologists, engineers, businessmen, doctors, students, children and a few pregnant women too joined the celebrations, chanting "Vande Mataram" and "Jai Hind" and singing "Hum Honge Kamyaab" (We shall overcome).
The march ended with the singing of India's national anthem.
In Houston, Indian Americans and volunteers of several organizations like IAC, PFL, 5th Pillar and Bharat Swabhiman joined a gathering near a statue of Mahatma Gandhi.
Similar functions were organised in Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.