Controversy Arises Over Ram Mandir Float at New York City India Day Parade

Several South Asian American organizations and lawmakers are expressing strong disapproval of a planned float at the upcoming India Day Parade in New York City, claiming it promotes anti-Muslim sentiments.

The contentious float, featured in a promotional video, will showcase a large replica of the Ram Mandir, a Hindu temple constructed on a disputed religious site in Ayodhya, a city in northern India. This temple was erected on the remnants of the Babri Masjid, a 16th-century mosque demolished by Hindu nationalist groups in 1992. The destruction of the mosque sparked widespread riots across India during the 1990s, resulting in the deaths of thousands, most of whom were Muslims.

In 2019, India’s Supreme Court approved the construction of the Hindu temple on this contested site. Earlier this year, the temple was officially opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For Hindus, Ayodhya is a sacred city, believed by some to be the birthplace of the deity Ram. However, for Muslims, the temple’s grand opening is seen as further marginalization under Modi’s right-wing Hindu nationalist government.

The India Day Parade in New York City has historically attracted tens of thousands of participants. However, advocates are concerned that featuring the Ram Mandir float could convey a divisive message.

“A float celebrating the construction of the Ram Temple would be divisive, and runs counter to the values of New York City,” stated a letter addressed to NYC Mayor Eric Adams. The letter was signed by three South Asian lawmakers in New York: councilmembers Shekar Krishnan and Shahana Hanif, and state assembly member Zohran Mamdani.

Mayor Adams, responding to the public outcry during a larger news conference on Tuesday, emphasized that hate has no place in the city. “I want to send the right symbolic gesture that the city’s open to everyone and there’s no room for hate,” he said. “If there is a float or a person in the parade that’s promoting hate, they should not.” Adams added that while he has participated in the parade in previous years, this year he was neither invited nor informed about the event. Addressing concerns raised by Muslim New Yorkers, he affirmed his long-standing support for the Muslim community, saying, “I have a long record on standing up on behalf of the Muslim community, probably a record that’s more impressive than any other elected officials. I’m not going to be judged by man, God judges me.”

The event organizers, in a July press release, highlighted that the parade is intended to celebrate the diversity of all Indian communities. “This celebration is an inclusive event that proudly represents the rich tapestry of India’s cultural diversity and will feature floats from various communities, including Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian faiths, underscoring the belief that we are all integral parts of this community, regardless of caste, creed, or religion,” said Dr. Avinash Gupta, president of the Federation of Indian Associations, which organizes the parade.

Despite these reassurances, Muslim and progressive South Asian groups argue that the inclusion of the Ram Mandir float is contrary to the event’s inclusive intent. “Allowing such a hateful and bigoted celebration in NYC is an affront to American values and to harmony and peaceful coexistence among our diverse communities,” stated another letter addressed to Mayor Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul by a coalition of 22 organizations. “It emboldens Hindu extremists to advance their supremacist agenda in the United States and glorifies acts of violence, injustice, and discrimination against Muslims.”

The lawmakers underscored the importance of considering the sentiments of all South Asian communities in New York. “As proud Indian-American and Bangladeshi-American, Hindu and Muslim elected officials representing New York City communities, we welcome the celebration of Indian culture and heritage on the streets of our great city. However, such public celebrations should not include symbols of division or bigotry,” they wrote.

The controversy surrounding the Ram Mandir float has sparked a broader debate about the role of religious symbolism in public celebrations and the need for inclusivity in multicultural events like the India Day Parade. While the organizers maintain that the parade aims to reflect the cultural diversity of India, critics argue that certain symbols and representations, particularly those tied to contentious historical and religious events, can alienate and marginalize specific communities.

As the India Day Parade approaches, the debate over the Ram Mandir float highlights the complexities of balancing cultural celebration with the need for sensitivity to the diverse communities that make up New York City’s vibrant social fabric. The response from both city officials and community leaders will likely influence how such events are organized and perceived in the future, with implications for the broader discourse on multiculturalism and inclusion in the United States.