ISLAMABAD, AUGUST 20: At an event in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Pakistani Americans turned out in force to commemorate Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day with great enthusiasm. The Pakistani American Merchants Association arranged the “Brooklyn Mela,” which took place on Coney Island Avenue in the borough, also referred to as “Little Pakistan.”
Men, women, and children displayed Pakistan’s rich cultural legacy with lively activities, traditional music, and cultural performances, all while donning the country’s traditional attire. There was also food vendors set up throughout the area, offering typical Pakistani fare.
The Coney Island Avenue neighborhood is home to a large population of Pakistanis, and there are numerous eateries and shops operated by them there with Urdu signboards. The Avenue bears Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s name in part.
Aamir Ahmed Atozai, Pakistan’s consul general in New York, praised the organizers’ initiatives to unite the community and advance Pakistani culture in the city. In addition, he sent his sincere congratulations to the community on Pakistan’s Independence Day, stressing the value of maintaining togetherness and taking pride in their common history.
The Brooklyn Mela gives the locals a chance to celebrate who they are and to recommit maintaining their cultural heritage while enhancing New York’s diversity.
