Community members gathered in downtown San Jose on Saturday for a parade and festival featuring Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu as the guest of honor and grand marshal. Colorful floats, marching bands, and cultural organizations, took part as the Indian American community celebrated the commemoration of the U.S. 250th and India’s 80th Independence Day.
Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu holds an Indian flag as she rides in a convertible as the guest of honor and grand marshal during the AIA Swades 2026 parade and festival along Market Street in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. The parade featured colorful floats, marching bands, cultural organizations, politicians and community groups as the Indian American community celebrated the commemoration of the U.S. 250th and India’s 80th Independence Day. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
A member of the Indian community waves American flags during the AIA Swades 2026 parade and festival at Plaza de César Chávez in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. The parade and festival featured Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu as the guest of honor and grand marshal, colorful floats, marching bands, cultural organizations, politicians and community groups as the Indian American community celebrated the commemoration of the U.S. 250th and India’s 80th Independence Day. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Spectators take selfies as Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu rides in a convertible as the guest of honor and grand marshal during the AIA Swades 2026 parade and festival along Market Street in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. The parade featured colorful floats, marching bands, cultural organizations, politicians and community groups as the Indian American community celebrated the commemoration of the U.S. 250th and India’s 80th Independence Day. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)