Article by ~ Rajesh Khare

Holi 2026, organized by the India Society of Worcester (ISW) Symphony, brought the community together for a high-energy celebration. Despite the cold weather, the turnout was strong, with many families and volunteers staying through the entire program. This event also marked a milestone of 40 public performances by the Symphony team in under five years, showing the continued growth of the group.

The event brought together Dhol-Tasha-Lezim, dance performances, and color play in a well-paced program. From the start, there was excitement in the crowd, with many eagerly waiting for the color segment while enjoying the performances.

General Secretary Kamlesh Khilnani introduced ISW to the audience, sharing the organization’s work and community initiatives.

Jessy Haggard from Faneuil Hall Marketplace also addressed the audience and thanked ISW and attendees: “The drums, the dances, and the colors are an amazing representation of Holi. I had a great time watching all of you and hope to see you again next year.”

The event ran smoothly thanks to coordinated volunteer efforts, and the hot refreshments helped everyone stay comfortable in the cold.

Dhol-Tasha-Lezim (DTL)

The Dhol-Tasha-Lezim performance set the tone with strong and catchy beats. The group included both experienced members and several first-time performers, bringing a good mix of confidence and fresh energy.

Choreographed Dance Segments

The program included a range of dance performances across age groups:

• Color Splash Kids brought cheerful energy and got the audience smiling from the start
• Kathak Holi Dance combined classical movements with expressive storytelling
• Dazzling Divas delivered a confident and expressive group performance
• Medley by Sohum and Ishaan added a fun youth segment to the lineup
• Lavani brought traditional rhythm and strong expressions to the stage
• Tanvi and Ria Dance added a playful spring theme to the program

Community Impact

A total of 54 volunteers and performers contributed to making this event happen.

The crowd stayed engaged throughout, enjoying both the performances and the color play. It was great to see many new performers join in and be part of the program alongside experienced members.

The event reflected strong teamwork across volunteers, performers, and organizers, coming together to create a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Credits

Dhol
Aditya Ambade, Aishwarya Mungarwadi, Jui Ashinkar, Komal Kadam, Narayan Sharma, Prasanna Pawar, Raghvendra Cowlagi, Sakshi Gurao, Shilpa Parab, Sonia Gera, Sumeet Nayak, Swapnil Sundarkar, Varsha Padwalkar

Tasha
Anand Desai, Arvind Kinhikar, Manoj Gera, Sanket Gurao

Lezim
Deepali Kadu, Pallavi Chavan, Samyukta Warty, Seema Jadhav, Shilpa Kulkarni, Shweta Choudhari, Vidya Kulkarni

Zhanj
Ashok Kale, Poonam Parab, Rajesh Khare, Sharat Amin

Music
Ahan Rajhans, Archis Cowlagi

Tol / Dhumal / Ghoshana
Shirish Joshi, Akshay Rajhans, Maurya Pawar

Dance Performers
Aishwarya Mungarwadi, Avni Goal, Gargi Kulkarni, Ginni Goal, Ishaan Pattarkine, Madhura Kulkarni, Maurya Pawar, Radhika Chintapalli, Renuka Goyal, Ria Deshpande, Shivaanee Kothavle, Sohum Pattarkine, Sukanya Mishra, Tanvi Manjrekar, Tejashri Mate, Vedant Mungarwadi, Vivaan Mungarwadi

Photo & Video
Chetan Mungarwadi, Kapil Pawar

Coordination Support
Arvind Kinhikar, Ashok Kale, Prasanna Pawar, Preeti Khilnani, Rajesh Khare, Sakshi Gurao, Sanket Gurao, Sarita Deshpande, Vishakha Khamankar

Closing Note

The Holi Festival of Colors 2026 once again brought the community together through music, dance, and shared celebration. With strong participation and continued volunteer support, the event continues to grow each year.