Despite objections from some US-based organizations, a float featuring Ayodhya's Ram Mandir was included in the India Day Parade in New York City on Sunday. The float, which depicted the recently consecrated temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, was adorned with garlands as members of the Indian diaspora, dressed in traditional attire and waving the Indian tricolor, celebrated in the streets.

The Ram Mandir float sparked controversy in the days leading up to the parade, with several groups labeling it as anti-Muslim and calling for its removal from the event. Organizations like the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Indian American Muslim Council, and Hindus for Human Rights sent a letter to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, arguing that the float glorified the demolition of a mosque and promoted a Hindu nationalist ideology.

In response, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, which organized the float, defended it as a representation of a Hindu place of worship and an important symbol of Indian and Hindu identity. The Hindu American Foundation also supported the float, framing it as an exercise of free speech.

The Federation of Indian Associations, which organized the parade, emphasized that the event was meant to showcase India's cultural diversity, featuring floats from various communities. The annual New York City parade is held three days after India's Independence Day.