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AIA to host multinational parade in San Jose with SWADES 2026
Event will mark U.S. and Indian independence anniversaries with a parade, cultural programs and community activities.
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Staff Reporter - Thu, 06, Aug 2026
- 02:07 EDT
- 26
Poster of the event. / AIA
The Association of Indo Americans (AIA) will host its annual AIA SWADES 2026 celebration at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San Jose on Aug. 15, marking the United States' 250th Independence Day and India's 80th Independence Day with a multinational parade, cultural programs and community events.
The event will take place at Plaza de Cesar Chavez and will feature the AIA SWADES Day & Night Mela, an India Day Parade and a flag-raising ceremony.
Actor Taapsee Pannu will serve as the event's honorable guest and grand marshal.
ALSO READ: Massachusetts proclaims Aug. 15 as 'India Day'
Organizers said San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Consul General of India in San Francisco Dr. Srikar Reddy are expected to attend as chief guests.
A centerpiece of the celebration is the multinational parade, which organizers said will include more than 75 floats, marching bands, cultural organizations and community groups. The parade is intended to recognize India's cultural heritage while reflecting the diversity of Silicon Valley.
The Day & Night Mela will include a food festival, shopping marketplace, cultural performances, a fashion show, a children's zone, and the Historic Flag Walk and Tiranga Walk. Organizers said the activities are intended to commemorate India's 80 years of independence.
Organizers said AIA SWADES has evolved into an annual event that brings together Indian Americans across generations through cultural programming, music, food, art and community activities.
Admission to both the mela and the parade is free. Organizers encouraged attendees to register in advance for complimentary mela tickets through the event website.
According to the organizers, AIA SWADES 2026 is being organized to commemorate the milestone independence anniversaries of both the United States and India while bringing together families and community members from across the Bay Area.
The event is scheduled for Aug. 15 at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in downtown San Jose. The Day & Night Mela will run from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., followed by the India Day Parade from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and the flag-raising ceremony from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pannu will serve as the honorable guest and grand marshal, while Reddy is scheduled to attend as chief guest.
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