Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna attend India Day parade in New York; Duo named co-grand marshals - WATCH

Actors Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna joined the celebrations in the United States in a vibrant lead-up to India’s 79th Independence Day. The actors made a special appearance at the Consulate General of India in New York on Friday (August 15). A video clip, shared online by Suresh PRO, captured their separate arrivals at the venue, where organisers greeted them with bouquets and applause.Both opted for understated, comfortable looks. Vijay Deverakonda was seen in brown-green trousers, a black shirt, and white sneakers, while Rashmika Mandanna paired black trousers with a white top and a cardigan. Both the actors were looking stunning as usual.The duo’s presence added a star touch to the cultural festivities, even as speculation about their off-screen relationship continues to swirl.

Co-grand marshals for the 43rd annual parade

As reported by India Today, The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) confirmed that Vijay and Rashmika will serve as co-grand marshals for the 43rd annual India Day parade. This year’s theme, ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’ — translating to “May all be happy” — comes as a message of peace and healing during a time of global challenges.Watch the video here.

The parade itself will be held along Madison Avenue in New York on Sunday, August 17, starting at 12 pm.

A weekend of tricolour pride and festivities

Beyond the parade, FIA has planned a string of events to mark the occasion. The pre-parade weekend began on August 15, followed by the illumination of the Empire State Building in the colours of the Indian flag. On August 16, Times Square will host a flag-hoisting ceremony, and for the first time in the parade’s history, a cricket match has been scheduled as part of the celebrations.On the professional front, Vijay Deverakonda was last seen in the Telugu spy-thriller 'Kingdom', while Rashmika Mandanna’s recent release was 'Kuberaa'.

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