Priyanka to lead India Day Parade in New York

Bollywood beauty Priyanka Chopra is set to lead the 27th India Day Parade as Grand Marshal in New York in August to celebrate the country's 60th Independence Day.

The annual parade, which will be held Aug 19, is organised in Manhattan by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) and attracts thousands of people every year. It is considered the biggest such event outside India.

Announcing details of the parade at the Indian Consulate here Wednesday, FIA president Shobhana Patel said comedian Johny Lever would be the chief guest. The theme of the parade would be "Women's Shakti" (power), Patel said.

Music composer A.R. Rahman, who is on a concert tour of the US, was present at the function. He was Grand Marshal for the 2006 parade.

Known personalities who have participated in the past FIA parades include actresses Madhuri Dixit and Rekha, spiritual guru Morari Bapu, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Set up in 1981, FIA is a large, influential umbrella organisation of the Indian community in the US. It boasts of 300,000 members in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The objective of its annual India Day Parade is to project Indian Americans' progress and unity to other communities.