Indian Independence Day Parade

Tuesday, August 15th was the 59th anniversary of Indian independence from the British Empire. So Indians in the United States have adopted the folkways of their new home by waiting until the following weekend to really cut loose. Today Chicago-area Indians gave it a shot by blocking off Devon Avenue between Western and California (known in some circles as "Little Bombay") and dragging a few dozen floats down the street.

Unlike Americans overseas, Chicagoist has been told, diaspora Indians make few shows of overt patriotism. So, while the floats were colorful, and the giveaways plenty (one restaurant gave away free food!), the Independence Day energy tended to be low. Still, we'll probably check it out again next year.

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