Indian-American Organizations Unite to Celebrate India Independence Day in California

July 25, 2003

Source: Oakland Tribune

http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~1726~1532626,00.html

On July 25, 2003 the Oakland Tribune reported that "organizers from three Indian-American organizations who have hosted separate festivals in the past announced Thursday that the dream of a unified Bay Area India Independence Day celebration has been realized... 'Independence Day should not have to be celebrated three times in three weeks,' said Anil Yadav, president of the Federation of Indo-American Associations of the Bay Area, which has held a festival in Union City for the past two years. 'As community leaders, our responsibility should be to the community, not to individual (interests)...' The joint festival -- celebrating India's 56th anniversary of independence from Britain -- will be held Aug. 16 and 17 in the parking lot at the Fremont Hall of Justice. It is expected to attract up to 100,000 people, organizers say... Eighty board members and volunteers from the three groups met Wednesday night at the Fremont Hindu Temple Community Center, where they set aside ideological differences and came to an agreement on a joint festival."