ISW Celebrates 62nd Anniversary and 37th India Day at DCU Center

Rajesh Khare

The India Society of Worcester (ISW) commemorated its 62nd anniversary alongside the 37th annual India Day celebration on August 9, 2025, at the DCU Center in Worcester. This milestone event marked the 10th consecutive year that India Day has been hosted at the DCU Center, underscoring the event’s significance within the region and its role in promoting Indian culture and heritage across New England.

The celebration commenced with an invigorating Dhol Tasha Lezim performance by the Symphony initiative, setting an enthusiastic and festive tone for the day. The cultural program showcased a diverse array of performances, including contemporary dance presentations, traditional rhythms of Kerala’s Chenda Melam, and a distinguished performance by the Humrahee senior group. The Symphony initiative exhibited a vibrant display of local talent through vocal ensembles and folk rhythms, complemented by an art fair featuring regional artists. The participation of children and mothers in dance performances further illustrated the community’s rich artistic heritage.

Mayor Joseph Petty of Worcester, serving as the Chief Guest, praised ISW’s longstanding contributions.

In addition to cultural festivities, the event highlighted ISW’s commitment to community welfare and engagement. Attendees benefited from free health services provided by the ISW Health Stop. The India Youth Group contributed to the festive atmosphere with volunteer-operated stands offering popcorn, cotton candy, and mehendi. Informational booths representing the ISW Language and Cultural School, Humrahee, and the Crisis Support Network provided valuable resources and program information to the community.

The venue also featured a vibrant marketplace, where vendors showcased a wide range of Indian clothing, jewelry, handicrafts, and regional delicacies, enriching the cultural experience for attendees.

Symphony Chair Sarita Deshpande described the atmosphere vividly: "I loved watching people shop for beautiful Indian clothes and jewelry, enjoy tasty food, witness lively music and dance performances, explore fun children’s activities, admire stunning local artwork, and take part in helpful workshops, all coming together in one joyful, vibrant celebration."

Milestones and Meaning

India Day Chair Kamlesh Khilnani reflected on the event’s significance: "It was truly heartwarming to witness the vibrant crowds coming together, enjoying the lively music and captivating dance performances, and savoring the variety of delicious traditional foods. Your enthusiasm and participation are what make this celebration so special year after year."

President Jagan Srinivasan added: "India Day 2025 had it all, music, food, dance, and enough energy to light up Worcester. For me, the real success was seeing the community come together to celebrate our heritage and culture."

Cultural Co-Chair Komal Tanna noted: "An extraordinarily successful event by ISW for the community, bringing together India’s vibrant colors all under one roof for the 10th year at the DCU Center."

Cultural Chair Smita Manjrekar expressed her enthusiasm: "The ISW India Day event comes once a year, but its vibrant spirit stays with us all year long. I am already excited for next year’s celebration."

Workshops and Community Services

The celebration featured impactful community programs. The Women Empowering Women (WEW) initiative collaborated with the Professional and Entrepreneurial Network (PEN) to host a professional headshot session along with resume review and mock interview workshops.

Snehalata Kadam, WEW co-chair, explained: "For us, WEW means Empowerment Without Borders. We believe that female empowerment is a fundamental human right, essential for building a more equitable and prosperous world."

PEN co-chair Kelly Mittal shared: "The event perfectly embodied PEN’s mission to empower and connect the community’s Professionals"

Shiamin Melville,  Chair of ISW University, highlighted the collaboration: "What a great opportunity to share ISW programs for chess and dance classes in collaboration with Sports and Symphony. Personally, I love meeting with the ISW family."

Community Voices

Sponsors, volunteers, and attendees reflected on the welcoming spirit of India Day.

• Michael Stone of UniBank summed it up: "Nothing but happiness and smiles. We have a great time learning more about the culture and the people, and I really enjoy it."
• Raj Melville, longtime member and volunteer, shared: "Absolutely the community, finding new friends, making new friends, connecting with people, seeing the young people get engaged, and then watching them grow up."
• Darshana Jani, ISW member for 25 years, said: "Every year when I come to the program, I learn something new about our heritage. I have learned how American society impacts our heritage and how our heritage influences the American season."
• Manoj Kumar from Indian Circle for Caring explained: "We provide emergency support for people facing crises like hospitalization or the death of a family member."
• Artist Chaitrali admired the planning: "I love the way you organize it and all the different things you get to see. I might even ask if I can volunteer next year."
• Shanta from Natick praised the warmth: "First of all, it is the community feeling, you come here and everybody is so warm and friendly. The spirit of giving is amazing."

India Day Co-Chair Suchitra Shinde reflected on the connections made: "It was a pleasure meeting new people and equally heartwarming to hear stories from ISW volunteers and participants about how they and their families have cherished memories with ISW and India Day."

Looking Ahead

From cultural performances and artistic showcases to professional development opportunities, free health services, and community outreach, this year’s event once again proved that ISW India Day is more than a festival. It is a living expression of heritage, unity, and pride.

We thank our sponsors for their generous support in making India Day possible: AARP, Berkshire Bank, Central One Federal Credit Union, Country Bank, eClinicalWorks, ILLUMINE i, Middlesex Savings Bank, Polyset, UNIBANK, and Webster Five.

Picture Credit - Arjun Thube, Parnitha Karapakula, Sahith Madadi and other volunteers