The Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band performed at this year's Tartan Day Parade in New York City.
The Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band performed at this year’s Tartan Day Parade in New York City.
NEW YORK (Diya TV) — The Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band performed at this weekend’s Tartan Day Parade in New York City, a parade which features 50 bagpipe groups from across all of North America.
The Indian-American band were a crowd sensation, sporting traditional Scottish bagpipe uniform, accompanied with flared elements of traditional Indian colors. Thousands lined the sidewalks of New York City’s Sixth Avenue and cheered on as band entertained with Indian melodies and Scottish favorites.
“Got to hand it to this band – they piped the whole length of the parade route with a lot of pep in their step,” members of the nonprofit Round Hill Highland Games, told the News India Times.
“They sure did! Pure enthusiasm! Awesome to see different cultures embrace the pipes & drums!” parade organizers said.
The band, which is the first international Hindu Indian traditional Scottish bagpipe band, is comprised of 214 members from the U.S., U.K., Kenya, and India. It features bagpipes, snare drums, bass drums, and tenor drums, and the band plays Scottish and patriotic tunes, and cultural melodies. Band members travel to perform at parades, religious events, cultural expositions, and charity performances across the world. Members of the group vary from students, entrepreneurs, physicians, lawyers, doctorates, and other professionals. The band has an age range from 10-50.
The Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band uses the medium of music to personify the mission of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, an international non-profit Hindu religious organization, which promotes spiritual, cultural, and social welfare across the world.
