Festive floats, marching bands and a variety of enthusiastic participants comprised New Jersey’s first Pakistan Day Parade, which made its way through Edison and Iselin on Aug. 16. PHOTOS BY FRANK WOJCIECHOWSKI The state’s inaugural Pakistan Day Parade drew 7,000 attendees from across the state and beyond, according to organizers.
Making its way along Oak Tree Road and ending in Iselin, the parade culminated in a Pakistani cultural festival and musical concert.
The event, organized by the Pakistan Parade Committee of New Jersey, included 13 floats, Bhangra dancers, Dhol music and a 100-person marching band. Muslim Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America walked alongside groups representing some of Pakistan’s diverse religions, including Pakistani Christians, Sikhs and Hindus. In addition to several local Pakistani organizations and businesses, JFK Hospital, Carepoint, and the Overseas Commission of Pakistan all had floats.
Festive floats, marching bands and a variety of enthusiastic participants comprised New Jersey’s first Pakistan Day Parade, which made its way through Edison and Iselin on Aug. 16. PHOTOS BY FRANK WOJCIECHOWSKI “It is so great to be living in a country where we can freely celebrate our rich and diverse heritage and share it with our neighbors and with New Jerseyans in general,” said Sam Khan, president of the parade committee.
The cultural music festival was headlined by five Pakistani pop stars who entertained the crowd — Fariha Pervez, Raheem Shah, Komal Malik, Waqas Ali and Haider Afzal. They were joined by local talent, including Pakistani-American rappers. Other local Pakistani-American businesses helped put on an ethnic dress show, along with cultural dances.
Elected officials from around the state took part in the celebration, led by Edison Mayor Tom Lankey and Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac. Also on hand were State Senate President Steve Sweeney, Sen. Peter Barnes (D-Middlesex), Sen. Sam Thompson (R-Middlesex), Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin, N.J. Board of Public Utilities Commissioner Upendra Chivukula, and Middlesex County Freeholders Charles Tomaro, Kenneth Armwood and Charles Kenney.
“I am especially proud of all the different religious groups that helped make this event a success. Pakistanis are not a monolithic people, and the Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Jews from Pakistan here today exemplify that,” said Dr. Mohammad Zubair, chairman of the Pakistan Parade Committee.
Tauqeer Haq, the committee’s vice president, said he is also involved with the Pakistan Day Parade in New York City.
“ … This inaugural New Jersey parade was more successful than anyone could have hoped for. New Jersey already has a huge Pakistani-American population and we’re one of the fastest-growing demographics in the region, so this event is only going to get bigger and better. I’m already looking forward to next year, so we can enjoy even more great music, great culture, and most importantly, tons of delicious Pakistani food.”