Editor's Note
Six days to Desi SNL. Three to the India Day Parade. August is not finished.
Twenty-four issues in. The city has not once run out of things worth your time.
This Sunday, August 16: the India Day Parade moves down Madison Avenue. Free, outdoors, one of the largest Independence Day celebrations outside of India. No ticket required. Show up.
Six days after that, August 19 at 7pm: Desi SNL Episode 3. Written, directed, and produced by Azhar Bande-Ali, whose work critics have compared to Hasan Minhaj and Mike Birbiglia. Episodes 1 and 2 combined for eight sold-out shows and a Top Grossing award at the NYC Fringe Festival 2026. Episode 3 is at the same Off-Broadway venue -- ci.ovationtix.com/35583/production/1281444. A second show runs August 29 at 5pm.
And all month at Chhandayan Center in midtown: an August series of classical Indian vocal and instrumental concerts. The full lineup is in slot three below. The Gundecha Brothers close the month on August 29 with Dhrupad -- the oldest surviving form of classical Hindustani music.
-- The Editors, Bollywood.NYC
This Sunday, Aug 16: India Day Parade, Madison Avenue, free.
Wed, Aug 19: Desi SNL Episode 3, 7pm.
Thu, Aug 21: Arnab Chatterjee vocal, Chhandayan Center.
Fri, Aug 22: Siddharth Ashokkumar Carnatic violin, Chhandayan Center.
Fri, Aug 29: Gundecha Brothers Dhrupad, Chhandayan Center. Desi SNL second show, 5pm.
01
Editor's Pick
Comedy
Desi SNL Episode 3
Wednesday August 19, 7 PM + Friday August 29, 5 PM
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Off-Broadway, New York City
Desi SNL is a live sketch comedy show written, directed, and produced by Azhar Bande-Ali -- compared by critics to Hasan Minhaj and Mike Birbiglia. The format reimagines SNL with a South Asian ensemble cast: opening monologue, Weekend Update, original sketches rooted in diaspora life. Episodes 1 and 2 combined for eight sold-out shows and won Top Grossing and Outstanding Ensemble at the NYC Fringe Festival 2026. Episode 3 runs twice -- August 19 at 7pm and August 29 at 5pm. The people in the room will remember this one.
Tickets -- OvationTix
02
Free
This Sunday
India Day Parade -- Madison Avenue, Manhattan
This Sunday, August 16
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Madison Avenue, Manhattan
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Free
The 44th annual India Day Parade -- one of the largest Independence Day celebrations outside of India -- moves down Madison Avenue this Sunday. August 15 is Indian Independence Day. August 16, it becomes a parade in New York City. No ticket required. Show up.
Details -- indiaparadenyc.org
03
Classical
Chhandayan August Series -- 269 W 39th St, Manhattan
August 21, 22, and 29
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Chhandayan Center, 269 W 39th St, Manhattan
Chhandayan Center presents three evenings of classical Indian music this August. August 21: Arnab Chatterjee, vocal. August 22: Siddharth Ashokkumar, Carnatic violin. August 29: the Gundecha Brothers perform Dhrupad -- the oldest surviving form of Hindustani classical music, traced back to the 15th century, sung in a form that predates all other North Indian classical styles. The month closes on the deepest note.
Tickets -- chhandayan.org
Fri, Aug 29
Desi SNL Episode 3 -- Second Show, 5 PM
If you miss August 19, the second show is August 29 at 5pm. Same venue, same episode. Tickets at the same link.
Tickets -- OvationTix
Fri, Sep 13
Sonu Nigam -- Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Sonu Nigam live at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY. Friday September 13. One of the most recognizable voices in Bollywood playback singing, performing in the New York area for the first time in years.
Tickets -- Ticketmaster
Thu, Sep 18
L Shankar -- Adler Hall, New York Society for Ethical Culture
L Shankar at Adler Hall, 2 West 64th St, Manhattan. Thursday September 18, doors 7pm, show 8pm. WMI Masters Series. $45/$55. The double violin player and composer who collaborated with Zakir Hussain, Peter Gabriel, and Jan Garbarek.
Tickets -- wmi.org
Fri Sep 19 + Sat Sep 20
Erasing Borders Dance Festival 2026 -- Kaye Playhouse, Hunter College
18th annual Erasing Borders Dance Festival, presented by the Indo-American Arts Council. Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 68th St between Park and Lex. Two evenings, 6-8pm. Five classical Indian dance forms: Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Mohiniyattam, and Odissi. Ten artists across two nights.
Tickets -- Kaye Playhouse
Something worth adding to our radar? Write to us. We read every message.
Words
"the things we all recognize but nobody's said out loud."
Azhar Bande-Ali -- on Desi SNL, from desisnl.com
Desi SNL is a live sketch comedy show written, directed, and produced by Bande-Ali, whose work critics compare to Hasan Minhaj and Mike Birbiglia. Episodes 1 and 2 combined for eight sold-out shows. Episode 3 opens August 19. The India Day Parade is this Sunday on Madison Avenue. The Gundecha Brothers close August at Chhandayan on the 29th. Three very different rooms. One August.
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ICYMI: The City Around You
Gaurav Kapoor at Town Hall, September 13, 5pm. Rupi Kaur at Union Hall Brooklyn, September 17. NYC South Asian Comedy Festival by Laughing Lassi, October 16-18 -- three nights, five shows, Aparna Nancherla headlining Sunday. Kanan Gill at Town Hall, October 3. Carnegie Hall inaugural Indian music festival, May 21-23, 2027.