Pooja Hegde, ‘Taarak Mehta’ Stars Enjoy Leading Parade In New York

MUMBAI-Actress Pooja Hegde expressed immense pride after being invited as the Guest of Honour at the 44th annual India Day Parade in New York, where she joined members of the community and several Indian television personalities in celebrating India’s Independence Day.

The parade, organized by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), was held along Madison Avenue in Manhattan and is celebrated as the largest India Day Parade outside India.

Pooja shared a slew of images on Instagram, where she is seen holding the Indian flag and waving it as she stood atop a car during the parade. She was also felicitated with a sash that read “Chief Guest.”

“It was truly an honor and a matter of immense pride to be the Guest of Honour at the India Day Parade in New York. There was something incredibly surreal about seeing the streets of New York come alive with so many Indians, proudly celebrating our country and everything that connects us to home,” she wrote.

The celebrations also brought together members of the cast of the popular television sitcom ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’, led by its creator and producer Asit Kumarr Modi.

Actors Dilip Joshi, who plays Jethalal, Munmun Dutta, who essays Babita, Mandar Chandwadkar, who plays Atmaram Tukaram Bhide, Sonalika Joshi, who plays Madhavi Bhide, Nitish Bhaluni, who currently plays Tapu, and Balwinder Singh Suri, who plays Roshan Singh Sodhi, were among the cast members present at the parade.

Sonalika Joshi shared pictures and videos from the event on social media. In one video, she can be seen waving to the crowd from an open vehicle as it moved through the center of the road, with large crowds of Indian-Americans and other onlookers lining the route, waving Indian flags and cheering for the cast.

Sharing the video, Sonalika wrote, “Proud proud proud moment for us. Very Grateful to FIA who invited us USA to celebrate the 44Th India Day Parade ..Had all life time memories Happy Independence Day to All.”

In another post, she shared a glimpse of herself in traditional attire, wearing an Independence Day parade sash and tricolor badge, while waving to the crowd.

Actor Adivi Sesh also joined the celebrations, serving as a chief guest and grand marshal. The event marked the first New York City appearance of the lead actors of ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’. (IANS)