ISW Celebrates 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 importance in promoting Indian culture and heritage across New England.

The celebration commenced with an energetic Dhol Tasha Lezim performance by the Symphony initiative, setting a lively tone for the day. The cultural program featured a variety of performances, including contemporary dances, Kerala’s traditional Chenda Melam, and a performance by the Humrahee senior group. The Symphony initiative showcased local talent through vocal ensembles and folk rhythms, alongside an art fair with works by regional artists. Children and mothers also participated in dance performances, adding to the community spirit.

Mayor Joseph Petty of Worcester attended the event as the Chief Guest.

In addition to cultural festivities, the event highlighted ISW’s dedication to community service. Attendees benefited from free health services provided by the ISW Health Stop. The India Youth Group ran volunteer stands offering popcorn, cotton candy, and mehendi. Informational booths from the ISW Language and Cultural School, Humrahee, and the Crisis Support Network provided valuable resources and program information.

The venue also hosted a marketplace where vendors sold Indian clothing, jewelry, handicrafts, and regional foods, enhancing the cultural experience for visitors.

Community Reflections
Symphony Chair Sarita Deshpande said, “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 local artwork, and take part in helpful workshops, all coming together in one joyful celebration.”

India Day Chair Kamlesh Khilnani shared, “It was truly heartwarming to see the crowds coming together, enjoying the music and dance, and savoring the variety of delicious traditional foods. Your enthusiasm is what makes this celebration so special year after year.”

India Day Co-Chair Suchitra Shinde added, “It was a pleasure meeting new people and hearing stories from ISW volunteers and participants about their cherished memories with ISW and India Day.”

President Jagan Srinivasan noted, “India Day 2025 had it all, with music, food, dance, and enough energy to light up Worcester. The real success was seeing the community come together to celebrate our heritage and culture.”

Cultural Co-Chair Komal Tanna said, “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 added, “The ISW India Day event comes once a year, but its spirit stays with us all year long. I am already excited for next year’s celebration.”

Workshops and Services
The Women Empowering Women (WEW) initiative worked with the Professional and Entrepreneurial Network (PEN) to host resume reviews, mock interviews, and professional headshot sessions.

Snehalata Kadam, WEW co-chair, said, “For us, WEW means Empowerment Without Borders. We believe that female empowerment is a fundamental human right.”

PEN co-chair Kelly Mittal shared, “The event drew a strong turnout from professionals and college students eager to enhance their career profiles.”

Shiamin Melville, Chair of ISW University, said, “It was 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.”

Voices from the Community
• Michael Stone of UniBank: “Nothing but happiness and smiles. We have a great time learning more about the culture and the people.”
• Raj Melville, longtime member and volunteer: “Absolutely the community, finding new friends, making new friends, connecting with people, seeing the young people get engaged, and watching them grow up.”
• Darshana Jani, ISW member for 25 years: “Every year when I come to the program, I learn something new about our heritage.”
• Manoj Kumar from Indian Circle for Caring: “We provide emergency support for people facing crises like hospitalization or the death of a family member.”
• Artist Chaitrali: “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: “First of all, it is the community feeling. You come here and everybody is so warm and friendly. The spirit of giving is amazing.”

Looking Ahead
From cultural performances and artistic showcases to professional development workshops, free health services, and community outreach, this year’s India Day proved once again that ISW’s annual celebration is more than a festival. It is a reflection of heritage, unity, and pride.

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