City of Fremont welcomes Annual Festival of Globe India Day for 33rd time

By Staff Writers Luna Bichon & Aarav Vashisht and Feature Editor Ariel Duong

In celebration of Indian Independence Day, the Festival of Globe (FOG) hosted its 33rd annual Festival of India Mela and Parade on August 16-17. The event charmingly portrayed India’s established cultural heritage, featuring various ornate cutlery and clothing booths, celebratory cultural parades, mesmerizing performances from regional dance teams, and united Fremont’s significant Indian community, in honor of India’s Independence.

Attendees purchased tickets at the front entrance to enter the Mela, which roughly translates to “fair” in Sanskrit. Upon entering the festival’s Mela, visitors were immediately entranced by the fresh aroma of a variety of traditional South Asian foods provided by the collection of food trucks, scattered across the perimeters of the event.

After guests had visited the alluring food trucks, they were welcome to explore the booths selling Indian cultural products that lined each street. Moreover, several of the stalls had arrays of gold and silver cutlery, intricate Jhumkas, traditional bell-shaped Indian earrings, and Kasumalas, gold-coin necklaces. They also sold colorful kurtas and beautifully woven sarees, both staples of traditional Indian clothing. However, some attendees were disappointed by the emphasis on commerce and not India’s culture itself. “I feel like there’s nothing related to how [India’s] independence occurred… I do like that there’s henna, a lot of cultural wear, but it is very… business heavy.” Attendee Veena Veluri said. “We should be teaching the next generation what [India’s] independence signifies and how it came about.” 

The same day around 11 a.m. on August 17, the Saree Parade of the festival commenced. The parade hosted a variety of different attractions, with various vehicles and performances promenading through Paseo Padre Parkway, near its intersection with Walnut Avenue. After an opening speech from the festival’s announcer, bands and arrays of performers began to march down Paseo Padre Parkway, greeting the festival-goers. The first band was composed of musicians playing the chenda, a traditional Indian drum originating from the South Indian state of Kerala. Subsequently, the FOG founder and chairman, Dr. Romesh Japra, waved from an ornate horse drawn carriage, followed by a long line of vintage convertible cars. The cars hosted guests like Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan, Councilmember Yang Shao and even WNBA player Alexis Gray Lawson.. Featured at the parade were also other traditional Indian percussion troupes, marching bands, floats promoting local businesses. The Saree Parade brought joy to even the festival’s security, “A lot of people [were] dancing. They’re just happy to see their culture represented,” Lt. Veronica Rodrigues, a police lieutenant stationed at the parade, said. 

The lively marketplace and Saree Parade will return in the coming year. “We plan to show up next year, and attendees can expect to immerse [themselves] in the cultural heritage and performances here,” Vendor Neha of The Vanity Bazaar, a handicraft brand, said.