India Society of Worcester Past Events

ISW Symphony Celebrates Gudi Padwa with Sankalp

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:58:05 GMT

-By Ashok Kale

Walpole, MA, March 19 - Happy New Year on March 19th? Yes - it’s the Marathi New Year, called Gudi Padwa. It signifies the arrival of spring and prosperity and is celebrated by hosting Gudi flags.

ISW Symphony and Sankalp Marathi Mandal joined forces to create new possibilities for sharing and celebrating our culture.

Indoor or outdoor, kids or adults - we’ve got you covered. The practices built up all the excitement. New players quickly learned the beats, syncing up with the rest of the team.

Was this the 39th public performance since inception in 2021? You bet. The team members were brimming with excitement and energy to mesmerize the audience.

Ready, set, go! From the moment the first beat was struck, the entire performance was magical. The kids performed inside the Sai Temple in Walpole. Their performance brought joy, admiration, appreciation, and gratitude.

The adults picked up the momentum and delivered flawless performances in a procession around the temple. There was magic in the air, and the Sankalp team members joined in with enthusiasm - fully engaged in performing lezim and cheering. Once more, and then another, and another - no one wanted it to end. We’ve never had so many encores. The palakhi brought devotion to the entire performance, and the traditional Marathi costumes evoked the spirit of Maharashtra.

You had to be there to believe it! What a way to celebrate Gudi Padwa, a new partnership, and our culture. The pictures offer a glimpse of this joyful experience.

A big thank you to the Sankalp team for being wonderful hosts and bringing a large, energetic audience.

As always, kudos to the Symphony DTL team for bringing in new participants, new beats, renewed energy, and reaching new heights.

Spring Garba 2026

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:43:40 GMT

The Spring Garba event at ISW held on 11th April 2026 was a vibrant and memorable celebration that beautifully brought the community together across generations. From energetic teenagers to enthusiastic adults, the event created a lively space where everyone could connect, celebrate, and immerse themselves in cultural traditions.

The evening started with Ganesh Vandana shlok by Radhi Navani and then the rhythmic beats from DJ Raunak of garba music set the tone, drawing people in and encouraging even first-time attendees to join the circle. Evening was filled with color, music, and joy as participants dressed in traditional attire gathered on the dance floor. Laughter and smiles were everywhere, as families, friends, and new acquaintances danced side by side, creating a true sense of unity.

What made the event especially successful was its inclusivity. Teenagers brought energy and excitement, while adults contributed experience and warmth, resulting in a dynamic and welcoming atmosphere.

Beyond the dance floor, the event also offered delicious food by Chennai Express, some fun shopping with vendors Raas Ritva - who offered exquisite jewelry & clothing and Festive Collections that had amazing decor and gift items.

This event was spear headed by Cultural committee volunteer Tejal Doshi under the guidance of Cultural committee chairs Smita Manjrekar and Komal Tanna along with her fellow members ,Rashi Khanna, Neha Ujlayan, Preeti Khilnani, Snehalata Kadam and other CC members behind scenes who all made sure the cultural festivities brought together a reason to reconnect with familiar faces, and meet new members of the community. Big shout out to our President Jagan Srinivasan and EB members Anjali Paranjape & Sharat Amin for always helping a hand.

The shared experience fostered a sense of belonging and pride, reminding everyone of the importance of cultural traditions in bringing people together.

Overall, the Spring Garba at ISW was more than just an event—it was a celebration of community spirit, cultural richness, and joyful togetherness. Its success was reflected in the smiles, the energy, and the strong sense of connection that lingered long after the music ended.

Check out photos here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YxcwbUT4R6XmLivMA

~ Komal Tanna

Cultural Committee Co-Chair

ISW Holi Splashes Boston with Color, Dance, and Beats

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:35:02 GMT

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.

Second Year Eid Celebrations at ISW

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 02:49:15 GMT

- By Komal Tanna (Cultural Committee Co-Chair}

The ISW Eid celebration was a vibrant and joyous gathering that brought the community together to celebrate culture, tradition, and togetherness. The last weekend of March saw India Center bustling with activity.

Our President Jagan Shrinivasan welcomed the community with warmth, along with event MC’s Komal Tanna, Umraz Syed and Shehla Eledroos.

This collaboration featured a lively cultural show filled with traditional songs and music from Mustafa Taj, Homaira Naseem, Noura Khan and ISW’s own Humrahee family. There were Kathak dance performances that captivated the audience and set a festive tone for the evening.Ever beautiful Kirti Nagpal and young and graceful Kaayna Jain both mesmerized us with their performances.

We also had open mic where new singing talent was discovered!

Guests enjoyed the rhythmic beats of the “Dholki” a pre wedding event, adding an authentic touch to the celebration, while the free mehendi station was a popular attraction, with attendees adorning their hands in beautiful, intricate designs made by Yashfa.

A variety of vendors showcased stunning jewelry and traditional clothing, giving everyone a chance to explore and shop festive styles.

The event also offered a unique opportunity to try on elegant and traditional outfits which included Abhayas, Sharara, Khada duppatta, Shervqji, Nawabi topi etc,making it a fun and immersive cultural experience for all ages. The photo booth and the entire India center was beautifully decorated by Yaar Events,which was a hit capturing smiles and special moments throughout the evening.

Of course, no celebration is complete without food, and attendees were treated to a delicious spread that delighted every palate. Food was sponsored by local restaurants and also prepared by volunteers.

With music, dancing, and laughter filling the space, the event truly embodied the spirit of Eid.

Organized and run entirely by dedicated volunteers, we thank the community volunteer’s, Asiya, Tabassum, Shehla,Umraz,Yasmin, Sabreena, Also ISW volunteers Shilpa, Saket, Arush, Rashi, Tejal, Smita, Neha U, Priti, Abhijeet and many more!

The ISW Eid event was a wonderful success—creating lasting memories and strengthening the sense of community among all who attended.

Photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qU4RoMNGpGLLzzNB8

ISW Vocal Ensemble - Music Performance

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 02:26:38 GMT

Article by - Veena Dindore

Shrewsbury Public Library hosted an Indian Classical Music and Dance extravaganza on Saturday March 21st.

The ISW Symphony Vocal Ensemble group delivered a memorable semi-classical performance, taking on the exciting challenge of presenting thoughtfully crafted renditions composed and led by their mentor, Sarita Deshpande. The morning opened with the serene depth of raga Bhatiyaar, where Sarita set the tone with an evocative and meditative exploration of the raga. Her expressive approach created a graceful beginning that drew the audience into the classical mood.

The ensemble then presented a soulful, popular prarthana - Hamko Mann ki Shakti in Raag Kedar. This piece beautifully blended devotion with musical intricacy, featuring aalaps and taans woven seamlessly into the composition. The vocalists delivered it with unity and sensitivity, making it one of the most heartfelt moments of that morning.

Following this, the group transitioned into an engaging Raag Yaman–based Bollywood mashup. The performance featured elegant sargams that added classical richness to familiar melodies, creating a delightful blend of tradition and contemporary charm.

To conclude the presentation, the ensemble returned to the classical space with Raag Bhimpalasi. Sarita presented a traditional bandish, adorned with melodious aalaps and taans that highlighted the raga’s gentle, introspective beauty. This was followed by a selection of Bhimpalasi‑based Bollywood songs, sung gracefully by the vocalists, offering a seamless bridge between classical purity and popular appeal.

Throughout the entire performance, the ensemble was supported by the wonderful accompaniment of Yash on Tabla, Peter on Guitar and Sarita on Harmonium. Their sensitive and skillful playing added depth, rhythm, and texture to every piece, elevating the musical experience for both performers and audience.

The morning stood as a celebration of dedication, creativity, and the joy of learning—brought to life through the collective spirit of the ensemble.

Vocal Ensemble Group:

Anju Shukla, Aruna Tikkare, Sarita Deshpande, Sachin Shah, Shipra Gupta, Suhana Shah, Veena Dindore, Yatin Manjrekar

Tabla: Yash Naik

Guitar: Peter

Harmonium: Sarita Deshpande

Pictures and Videos - Pictures / Videos

ISW invites Counsel General of India

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 04:01:40 GMT

- Prof. Jagan Srinivasan

President, India Society of Worcester

I just wanted to drop a quick note to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who showed up in such large numbers to make the Deputy Consul General's visit to the India Center a resounding success!

A huge thank you to all our amazing volunteers for helping organize the event. Your time, energy, and teamwork made everything run smoothly and created such a warm, welcoming vibe for our guests.

A very special shout-out to Raj Melville for initiating contact with the Consulate General to make this incredible visit possible, and to Dr. Kirti Nagpal, Sharad Amin, Narayan Sharma, and Mukul Agarwal for stepping up and making such a massive impact on the ground.

I also want to highlight how wonderful it was to see so many of our previous leaders and past presidents in attendance. Having you there really amplified the impact of our community's presence and showed the DCG the strong, enduring foundation we've built together over the years.

Also worth celebrating: the DCG team was genuinely impressed by our center and the incredible range of activities we offer to serve the community! They saw the very best of us, and that’s entirely because you helped bring it all to life.

Building on the momentum of this fantastic visit, we will be officially inviting both the Consul General and the Deputy Consul General to join us for India Day at the DCU Center!

Grateful for each and every one of you. Have a great rest of your Sunday!

ISW Harvest Festival 2026

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:32:39 GMT

- By Chaitanya

ISW’s Annual Harvest Festival was a tremendous success—bringing together performers, families, volunteers, and community partners in a vibrant celebration of culture and community spirit! ✨

The festivities began on a soulful note with a beautiful Ganesh Stuti by Uma Sankar Ji, setting an uplifting and devotional tone for the day. Our sincere thanks to our esteemed judges—Singing: Uma Sankar & Sankar Gangaikondan Ji; Dance: Shilpa Sanghavi, Grishma Shah Gandhi, and Smt. Kalaimangai Anbalagan—whose expertise elevated the competition.

Singing Winners: Meenakshi Vaze, Sourabha Mandhana, Sachin, and Suhana Shah

Dance Winners (8–12): Ekta Dance Academy, Arya Dance Academy, Padmini Dance Academy

Dance Winners (13–17): Angikam Dance Academy, Ashwin Kumar Pitchai, Ekta Dance Academy

The festive spirit continued with delicious offerings from Kinnera and an amazing lineup of vendors—Pindora Threads, Eternal Health, AT&T, India Heritage Foundation, AV Innovative Decors & Return Gifts, and Frank Perrin of Combat Arts—adding color and energy to the celebration.

A special shoutout to 11-year-old Saanvi Khare, who raised funds for ISW through her Henna stall—an inspiring example of initiative and community spirit!

Thank you to our dedicated volunteers, talented choreographers, enthusiastic participants, and supportive audience for making this year’s Harvest Festival truly unforgettable! ✨

Picture credits: Anand Jain.

ISW and Ekta Dance Academy Shine at Boston Celtics Pregame Show

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:25:44 GMT

Boston, MA — January 26, 2026:

- By Anand Jain

In a powerful celebration of culture, community, and artistic excellence, the India Society of Worcester (ISW) and Ekta Dance Academy (EDA) delivered a vibrant performance at the Boston Celtics Pregame Show on Monday evening. Thirty dancers took center stage at the iconic TD Garden ahead of the Boston Celtics vs. Portland Trail Blazers game, representing the Indian American community with pride and energy.

This marks the fourth time that ISW and EDA have come together to showcase Indian music and dance at a Boston Celtics event—an ongoing collaboration that continues to bring South Asian culture to one of the region’s largest sporting stages.

Despite a severe snowstorm that brought much of the city to a standstill, every performer braved the weather and arrived on time, demonstrating remarkable dedication and enthusiasm. Their lively presentation lit up the arena, earning applause from fans and organizers alike.

ISW Executive Board members Geetanjali Virmani and Anand Jain joined the performers on the court, proudly raising the ISW banner at center court—a moment that symbolized community unity and cultural pride.

Ekta Jain, Founder and Director of Ekta Dance Academy, expressed her gratitude to ISW for its unwavering support throughout the years. She extended special thanks to:

Ragini Seth, ISW stalwart, for her consistent check-ins, support, and guidance
Jagan Srinivasan, President of ISW, for his regular calls and encouragement
Chella Palaniappan, for ensuring India Center availability during practice sessions

“Our performers gave it their all, and the community support behind the scenes made this event truly special,” Ekta Jain noted.

As ISW and Ekta Dance Academy continue to build on this tradition, excitement is already growing for their return in the next season.

Stay tuned—bigger stages and brighter moments await.

Cybersecurity Talk by Vikram Venkatasubramanian

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 21:45:43 GMT

- By Kirti Nagpal

Synopsis for the Cybersecurity Talk by Vikram Venkatasubramanian
(IIT Madras, MBA Cornell)
CEO and Founder, Nandi Security

We had the pleasure of hosting Vikram Venkatasubramanian for an informative and insightful session on digital hygiene.

Vikram helped us identify the many threats that lurk around us as we browse online from the comfort of our homes. Most of us are often unaware of the dangers and security breaches we expose ourselves to the moment we click on a malicious link or share personal information. Some of these security or data breaches may even fall under what is considered legally accepted data collection, making them harder to recognize.

He emphasized that simple steps—such as practicing good password hygiene and using password managers—are easy yet highly effective measures. Avoiding the sharing or posting of excessive personal and family details on social media was also highlighted as a prudent and necessary precaution.

In the past, we protected our homes with strong locks and sometimes even a guard at the front gate. Today, however, the threats are largely digital. Thieves and criminals can now carry out major heists while sitting miles away in a different country. To combat these evolving threats, we need specialists and experts like Vikram, who understand the landscape and can guide us through it.

Vikram is willing to go into greater detail on practical steps we can implement to make ourselves less susceptible targets in the digital world .

5th Annual ISW Dhol-Tasha-Lezim Training Workshop

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:55:06 GMT

- By Rajesh Khare

The 5th Annual Dhol-Tasha-Lezim (DTL) Training Workshop by the India Society of Worcester (ISW) was a high-energy gathering that brought together enthusiasts of traditional folk rhythms for a day of learning, practice, and community bonding.

Participants across age groups joined with great enthusiasm to build their skills, discipline, and teamwork in Dhol, Tasha, and Lezim. The workshop focused not only on technique and synchronization, but also on preserving and celebrating the rich cultural heritage behind these traditional art forms.

A special thanks to our outstanding volunteer trainers who generously shared their time and expertise:

* Shilpa Kulkarni: the OG of Lezim, who guided participants through precision, footwork, and formations

* Arvind Kinhikar: Master of Tasha, who emphasized rhythm control and ensemble coordination

* Raghavendra Cowlagi: our rising Dhol star, who energized the group with powerful beats and structured practice drills

We extend sincere appreciation to Sakshi Gurao (lead), Sarita Deshpande, Sanket Gurao and Rajesh Khare for coordinating and ensuring the workshop ran smoothly from planning to execution.

With growing participation each year, the DTL workshop continues to strengthen community connections while nurturing the next generation of performers. We look forward to seeing these rhythms come alive at upcoming ISW events and performances.

ISW Chess Club Game Night

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 02:34:58 GMT

---submitted by Jay Pathak

On January 31st, ISW Chess club organized the very first face to face game night of 2026. Despite of bitter cold, many chess enthusiasts came out to play. The event started at 4 pm and ended at 6 pm. Light refreshment was made available by Telugu group. If you were in the attendance, we thank you for the support. If not, plan to join us in future game nights. Our next game night is scheduled for February 28th, which is the last Saturday of the month.

Join the ISW Chess Club!

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:00:06 GMT

--Radhika Chintapalli & Jay Pathak

♟️ Join the ISW Chess Club! ♟️

We believe that the Chess has been originated in India during the Gupta Empire around the 6th century CE. It began as a Kingdom's strategic game called Chaturanga.

Looking for a fun and engaging way to spend your Saturday afternoons? The ISW Chess Club welcomes players of all ages and skill levels! Whether you're a seasoned grandmaster or just learning the ropes, this is the perfect casual, relaxed environment to enjoy a game of chess, make social connections, sharpen your thinking power.

Eventually we might plan some friendly tournaments and prizes too.

When:
We meet on the last Saturday of every month. It is a free, casual, open atmosphere where you would feel relaxed and play with a friend or make new friends.
All Ages & Levels: Everyone is welcome, from kids to adults, beginners to advanced players.
More Info & Registration

Stay Connected on Whatsapp,
For the latest updates and any potential changes.

Here are some benefits of chess :

Cognitive Benefits:
Improved focus and concentration for extended periods.
Enhanced problem-solving skills and analytical thinking.
Better strategic thinking and foresight (planning several moves ahead).
Memory improvement through pattern recognition and recalling strategies.
Increased creativity and originality in developing solutions on the board.
Develops critical thinking and objective evaluation of situations.
Boosts IQ and potential academic performance.
Personal and Social Benefits:
Teaches sportsmanship and humility in winning and losing.
Improves patience and the ability to persevere through challenges.
Offers a healthy social pastime for meeting people and building our community.
Reduces stress and promotes mental well-being through engaging the mind.
We look forward to seeing you at the board! Let the games begin♟️

ISW WEW - Celebrating 5 years of Women Empowering Women

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 02:57:10 GMT

WEW-Wonderful Energy World

⁃ In the universe that is changing, moving and always expanding ⁃ On the earth that is growing, providing and nurturing

⁃ Thru the 10s and 1000s of possibilities of genetics only one unique WE are existing

⁃ With the generative force a human being that we are fundamentally creating

⁃ For the grounded world of endless possibilities that we are generating

⁃ Let us weave (WEW) together an epitome of energy figures, the wonderful graceful beauties we are here celebrating

As the SUN, the provider of the energies, I would like to thank ISW

As the planet earth, my world I would like to thank my family, my extended family, my WEW team,

As the energy figures that we have joined forces to inspire, support and celebrate,

I thank you all for coming!

- By Prof. Snehlata Kadam

ISW at the Celtics 2026

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 17:38:20 GMT

Ekta Dance Academy, in collaboration with the India Society of Worcester, is proud to shine once again at the iconic Boston Celtics TD Garden on Monday, January 26th. 7:00 pm (pregame)

With a dynamic troupe of 30 talented students, we are excited to continue a cherished tradition that was beautifully started by our very own Ragini Seth. This performance celebrates culture, community, and the spirit of Indian dance on a grand stage.

We warmly invite you to be there to support our dancers and enjoy a vibrant, high-energy performance that promises to leave the audience inspired and proud.

Tickets

Proposed By Laws changes

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:20:12 GMT

The ISW Committee on Governance proposes the following amendments to the ISW by laws. These changes will be voted upon by the general body at the next Annual General Body Meeting

Deletions are noted below in ~~this color~~ and additions to the relevant clauses noted in this color

3.11.1. Members eligible to vote during the Annual General Body Meeting should be current with their membership status on the day of the election AND should have been a member of the Society at least one year ~~60 days~~ prior to the date of the Annual General Body Meeting.

15.1 This Committee shall be responsible to review the Constitution and By-laws and functioning of the Society at least once a year and endorse them or suggest any amendments for approval by the General Body. In addition, the Committee shall also review any amendments proposed by the Active members according to the Article 3.8 of the ISW Constitution. This Committee shall discuss all proposed Bylaws amendments with the Executive Board prior to presenting to the General Body at least 30 days before the date of the Annual General Body Meeting. This committee shall also serve as a Committee on Grievance for the Society to resolve conflict between the members of the Executive Board and any complaints lodged against the Executive Board by the members of the Society. With a majority vote this Committee shall have authority to call a special General Body meeting to address any specific issue important to the functioning of the Society.

15.2 Composition: There shall be 5 members in this Committee. Chairperson of the Committee, shall be elected during the Annual Meeting every 2 years along with the Elections of Executive Board of the Society.

There shall be 4 other members- 2 from Executive Board – current President and the Vice President, 2 nominated by the Committee on Nomination from the pool of past members of the Executive Board or Executive Committee, Board of Trustees– these two position shall be approved during the Annual Meeting every 2 years along with the Elections of Executive Board of the Society. The candidates for these two positions shall be dues paying members of the India Society of Worcester for at least 4 years and should have served on a past Executive Committee, Executive Board or Board of Trustees.

World Meditation Day Celebration at ISW, Shrewsbury

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:46:05 GMT

---submitted by Rajay Goyal

On December 21, 2025, the Indian Society of Worcester (ISW), located in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, hosted an inspiring and transformative program to mark the United Nations–designated World Meditation Day. Coinciding with the winter solstice—the shortest day of the year and a traditional time for introspection—the event offered community members a meaningful opportunity to pause, breathe, and reconnect with their inner selves.

More than fifty participants gathered on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in the ISW community hall. The program featured three thoughtfully curated sessions, each showcasing a distinct meditation tradition and approach. The event was warmly opened by Ms. Shiamin Melville and Mr. Rajay Goyal, who welcomed the speakers and attendees and set the tone for an afternoon of mindfulness and reflection.

The first session was led by Ms. Bharti Bhakta, a longtime ISW member. She introduced participants to the eight limbs of Patanjali Yoga, providing a clear and insightful overview of this ancient framework. The session concluded with guided Pranayama breathing exercises and Soham meditation, helping attendees settle into a calm and centered state. The second session featured Mr. Kavishwar Wagholikar and Mr. Manish Shroff from the Art of Living. They shared updates on recent initiatives, including research on intuition development in children and the positive impact of meditation for children with special needs and ADHD. This informative discussion was followed by the practice of Bhastrika Pranayama and a guided meditation, allowing participants to experience the techniques firsthand. The third and final session was conducted by Mr. Devesh Srivastava from Heartfulness Meditation. He began by introducing Dr. Gladys McGarey’s transformative “Five Ls” framework—Living, Loving, Laughing, Laboring, and Listening—as a guide to a meaningful and stress-free life. He then introduced the principles of Heartfulness Meditation and led the group through a deeply calming meditation practice.

Fifteen-minute breaks between sessions provided time for social interaction, questions, and refreshments, including tea and snacks, fostering a sense of community and shared learning. The program concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by Ms. Shiamin Melville and Rajay Goyal.

This marked the first time ISW celebrated World Meditation Day, and the enthusiastic response from participants strongly suggests it will become an annual tradition. More than just an event, World Meditation Day at ISW served as a powerful reminder of the role stillness and mindfulness play in nurturing harmony within ourselves and with others. Through inclusive programming and active participation, the ISW community embraced a deeper sense of connection—perfectly timed for the holiday season.

For more info
bhartib127@gmail.com
waghsk@gmail.com
deveshsrivastav@gmail.com
manish_shroffin@yahoo.com

ISW 2025 Christmas Magic Moments

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 20:41:31 GMT

--submitted by Ernst Gulla. Pictures

2025 Christmas Magic Moments at ISW

The 21st Annual India Society of Worcester Christmas celebration was held at the St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church Hall / venue on December 6th 2025.Families from various States of India and languages, dressed in Christmas colors in Indian attire, Women in their colorful Saris, Men in cultural garb, kicked off the very first 2025 Christmas season together!

Christmas celebration with the sounds of joyous Christmas Carols sung in various Indian languages rang through the hall and brought the Christmas Spirit. Ms. Rashi Khanna moderated the program and Dr. Stephan Ko , Physician from Mass General Brigham, Prof. of Global Health @BU & former CDC Medical Officer shared the Christmas story & with a personal touch Dr. Jagan Srinivasan, President of ISW along with his wife & daughter cut the first Christmas cake following ISW Christmas tradition & greeted the community. In the eve of 20 th anniversary of ISW Free Clinic, Dr & Ms. Sahdev Passey , the founders and Pioneers of ISW free Clinic were honored for 1000 Wednesdays of Volunteer services to Families in medical needs.Mr.Balki Ramachandran, VP, ISW, narrated the significant events of ISW in 2025 and challenged people to get involved & encouraged families to Support the ISW

Crisis committee to care for fellow Indians hurting in our neighborhood and to make a difference in the community. Congregational Christmas carols in English were led by Ms. Sharon Sealy along with the Choir leading Telugu special Carols by Mr. Praveen Arupuda group and Hindi and Tamil Carols by Mr. Sudipta Singh with Choir. The ISW voice ensemble bought special carols in English & a Hindi medley with much enthusiasm and that bought the Christmas Joy & children danced to the Songs & Music which was enjoyed by Families was the highlight of 2025 Christmas event.

The appearance of Santa Claus brought Cheer and Joy to the children as they received Christmas presents lovingly donated and wrapped by families.

Attached is the link of Santa’s pictures for parents to down load for their family memories. ISW thanks many volunteer families that worked hard & shared their love for the community by serving homemade Indian Vegetarian dinner for up to 300 people.

Diwali Lights 2025 at NEBG Tower Hill by ISW!!

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 04:59:18 GMT

- By Rekha Gupta

The India Society of Worcester (ISW) and the New England Botanic Garden (NEBG) continued their successful partnership for the third year with the vibrant Diwali Lights celebration. The event, held once again at Tower Hill, brought together a wonderful blend of Indian culture, music, food, and community spirit, enchanting visitors of all ages.

"We are fortunate to work with Grace Elton, CEO at NEBG over these past years. She is forward thinking in forging this equitable partnership with us. Ashish Cowlagi is on their Strategy Committee and Priya Vaidya and myself joined their Board of Trustees. They granted us their organization membership which enables our ISW members to visit the beautiful garden for free throughout the year, " said Shiamin Melville, longtime ISW Volunteer. (More info on free passes click here)

https://www.iswonline.org/page-18074/13542835

This year’s event was beautifully set against NEBG’s 2025 Night Lights theme, “Dazzling Gardens,” which transformed the garden into a radiant wonderland of light and color. Visitors were treated to spectacular displays that highlighted the magic of nature illuminated by creative light installations, perfectly complementing the festival.

Guests were welcomed with Rangoli by Priya Vaidya, whose intricate designs added a traditional and colorful welcome that set the festive tone for the evening.Carolyn Passey's stunning decorating added an elegant and festive ambiance to the event, with thoughtfully arranged displays that drew many visitors to her Indian cultural display and enhanced the overall celebration.A beautiful Akash Kandil handcrafted by Vijayendra Cowlagi added a warm, festive glow to the celebration.SWU’s Radhika Chintapalli ‘s chess sessions kept everyone entertained and engaged throughout the evening. Our volunteers -Jay Pathak, Rohan Goyal, Tara Chintapalli, and Ishan Dixit added wonderful energy to the activity.ISW volunteers Ashish Cowlagi,Anjali Paranjape, Balki Chandrakashan ,Leena Das, Sangeeta Punjabi, Beena Krishnan,Suchitra Agarwal, Aarti Cowlagi, Kajal Kaushik Dixit and Vinod Gupta also played a key role in bringing the celebration to life and showed the strong community spirit behind this annual tradition.I was honored to step in as event Chair in Shiamin Ji’s absence and truly appreciate her trust in me.It has been an enriching experience for me.

Beautiful performances

The ISW Diwali Night 2025 featured an incredible lineup of talented performers and choreographers, including Suharit Ghosh, Rajesh Pai, Sridevi Thirumalai Ekta Jain, Darshana Jani, Kalaimangai Anbalagan, Bhuvana Ganesh, Mona Mitra, Uma Sridharan and Rajay Goyal,who captivated the audience with their outstanding performances.

The ISW Dhol Tasha team, led by Sanket Gurao, was a true highlight of the event! Their vibrant energy brought everyone together and filled the atmosphere with joy. The team included Abhijeet Kaulgu, Anand Desai, Jayant Thube, Madhu Thube, Manoj Gera, Narayan Sharma, Prasanna Pawar, Raghvendra Cowlagi, Sakshi Gurao, Shirish Joshi, Sonia Gera, Yogini Yogesh Lathkar, Mangesh Shinde, Vaijanthi Joshi, Anjali Kanhikar.

Attendees also enjoyed a delicious selection of Indian cuisine prepared by Gourmet India, at the café at Tower Hill. The event was further enriched by vibrant cultural activities and engaging vendors including Neha Ujjain, Rekha Jain, Gavoury Kumar and Meenakshi Krishnamoorthy, creating a lively atmosphere that delighted visitors.Meghana is an amazing henna artist. Everyone loved her designs and truly enjoyed the henna art experience.Scavenger hunt for Asian plants was fun and educational, encouraging visitors to explore the garden and learn about the diverse flora in a playful, interactive way.

Special thanks to Cassie and Bailey from NEBG for making the entire experience seamless. Both embraced the festive spirit by proudly wearing traditional Indian dupattas, adding a beautiful touch of cultural celebration. Grace Elton, NEBG’s CEO, continues to inspire through her leadership and dedication to fostering strong community partnerships that promote nature and culture.

We look forward to continuing the partnership between ISW and NEBG. Together, we will continue sharing the beauty of Indian culture and creating memorable celebrations.

You can find event photos shared by volunteers here-

https://photos.app.goo.gl/N4higCZy8iAKq5eF8

Humrahee Monthly Meet Highlights

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 04:57:58 GMT

Event Recap by Rajay Goyal – 11/22/2025

Celebrating Creativity and Togetherness

The Humrahee monthly meet on November 22, 2025, brought a refreshing twist to our usual gatherings. Embracing a "Free-Format Fun" approach, participants explored their creative sides beyond karaoke. The event featured heartfelt shayari recitations, live musical performances, stand-up comedy, short film skits, and spontaneous dancing, making it a vibrant showcase of talent and camaraderie.

For many attendees, this was a first experience performing live, and the supportive atmosphere encouraged everyone to step out of their comfort zones. The open format allowed music and dance to flow naturally throughout the program, resulting in an engaging and enjoyable evening for all.

Karaoke, Potluck, and New Friendships

The afternoon concluded with our much-loved karaoke session, where everyone sang with enthusiasm and spirit. The celebration continued over a delightful potluck dinner, fostering lively conversations and deeper connections among members. The Young-at-Heart Orchestra and Bridge Clubs also welcomed new members, further strengthening the Humrahee community.

Special Diwali Performance

The festivities didn’t end there. Later in the evening, the Humrahee team showcased their talents at the New England Botanical Garden’s Diwali celebration. Rajay played the violin, accompanied by Haren-ji on tabla and Sharat-ji on percussion, presenting a soulful classical piece in Raga Jaijaivanti. The performance was followed by a graceful Vishnu Stotram dance led by Renuka-ji and three additional artists, offered in devotion to Lord Vishnu.

Conclusion

This month’s Humrahee meet was a resounding success, filled with joy, creativity, and community spirit. The innovative format and memorable performances made it an event to cherish, leaving everyone eagerly anticipating the next gathering.

ISW bridge club annual party

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:33:11 GMT

- By Rajay Goyal

An annual party of ISW bridge club was held in the community hall on Nov 4. About 50 members of ten bridge club and their spouses attended the party.

The party started with five Bollywood melodies played by ISW young at heart orchestra led by violinist Rajay Goyal accompanied by Suresh Patel on guitar , Jawahar Pathak and Renuka Goyal on keyboard, Haren Mehta Bhupen Desai on tabla , Narayan Sharma on Casala and Sharat Amin on percussion. The official party photographer was Mr Adi Chena who is also a gold life member of the American Contract bridge league.

The party was a huge success with a lot of laughter , good food , music and camaraderie

A Milestone year of ISW Diwali celebrations at WAM!

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 03:13:31 GMT

- By Arathi Cowlagi

The India Society of Worcester(ISW) and the Worcester Art Museum(WAM) celebrated the 10th annual Diwali community day, marking a decade of partnership and cultural exchange.

The festivities began with a lamp lighting ceremony led by ISW president, Dr Jagan Srinivasan, our pillars of ISW Dr Sahdev Passey & Carolyn Passey, Kent Russell, the president of the Board of trustees at WAM. This symbolized the spirit of unity and shared community that has defined this event over the years.

The cultural performances were the highlight of the day- vibrant, diverse and of exceptionally high quality. Visitors also enjoyed exploring the many activities around the museum like,

- “Learn about India” table setup by Carolyn Passey & Dr Sahdev Passey

- Engaging in friendly Chess games setup by Radhika Chintapalli

- Kandil lantern display in the Lancaster lobby handmade by Vijayendra & Rekha Cowlagi

- Diwali Storytime by Divya Muthu

- Admiring the beautiful Art Displays created by talented local artists - Susmitha Bando, Avni Chheda, Madhu Thube, Neha Ujlayan, Meenakshi Krishnamoorthy and Shrikant Savant

No celebration would be complete without great food! Visitors enjoyed the flavors of India with delicious dishes catered by Peppers Indian Cuisine of Northborough, artisanal ice cream from Tickett Ice cream and delicious Diwali sweets by Chaitrali’s Kitchen.

This milestone event that welcomed 1100 visitors to the museum, was a joyful reflection of ISW and WAM’s shared commitment to celebrating and sharing culture, coming together of community and creativity. It is indeed wonderful to see so many people from such diverse backgrounds come together to celebrate and enjoy the spirit of Diwali. Here’s to the next decade of light and celebration!

Click here to enjoy these beautiful captures of the event over the years by Troy B.Thompson Photography,

https://www.troybthompson.com/gallery-collection/India-Society-of-Worcester/C0000GY0U9VQqrBw

ISW Diwali Cultural Show 2025

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 03:05:13 GMT

- By Rashi Khanna

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the ISW Diwali Cultural Show! The afternoon was vibrant and joyful, with performances ranging from Remembering Ramji to Kathak, I Am a Disco Dancer, A Girls’ Trip to Paris, and an All-Boys Singing Act, ending with a grand finale — Step into the Glow of Celebration, a festive ramp dance blending Diwali nights, Navratri beats, and October sparkle!

A big thank you to our choreographers, participants, volunteers, and vendors for making the show unforgettable. Gratitude to Arjun Thube for capturing the beautiful moments, our Bronze Sponsor Dili Darbar, and Ekta Dance Academy for their support. Special shout-out to DJ Ashok for running the event seamlessly.

It was inspiring to see more male performers and greater diversity in the performances.

Kudos to our Cultural Committee and Executive Board for their tireless efforts. Here’s to another Diwali filled with light, joy, and togetherness!

ISW First Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 17:09:12 GMT

--Kirti Nagpal

ISW Thanksgiving Food Drive

We will start collecting the donations November 1, 2025 at India center
Please come anytime to the center from 4-9 on Nov 1.
If the center is open please come inside and there is going to be Table and a box to drop off the items If the center is closed there will be a container with a lid in the Gazebo in the back .
You can drop of your food items any time there from 11/1/25 - 11/16/25 ‎

We are striving to collect 1000 food items for donation to food pantries in our area.

Given the current economic environment with so many workers laid off without salary it’s really important that we all pitch in and help the families in need . If Each one of us can Just Bring 10 items of food —we will be able to reach the goal in no time

India CENTER
152 MAIN STREET SHREWSBURY MA

You may donate at this link also

ITEMS NEEDED:

CANNED VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
RICE, PASTA, AND GRAINS
CANNED SOUPS AND BEANS
PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY
BOXED STUFFING AND MASHED POTATOES
COOKING OIL AND SPICES
BABY FOOD AND FORMULA
Mac and Cheese
Laundry detergent, bath soap, shampoo

Also, if possible, try to get flip top cans for tuna, canned meats, fruits and vegetables. Not 100 % necessary but it is important for the homeless because they don’t usually have access to a can opener.

Please make sure to check the expiry Dates on the food items before donating Should be after December 1, 2025

ISW Humrahee celebrates Diwali

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 03:54:08 GMT

- By Dr. Kirti Nagpal

We kicked off the day with some really informative sessions about Medicare. Narayan Sharma gave us a quick and easy-to-understand review of the different parts — A, B, C, and D. His talk helped simplify this confusing “alphabet soup” that many of us start navigating once we turn 65.

After that, we moved right into the Diwali celebrations with a beautiful Laxmi Ji Aarti. It set the perfect tone for the rest of the day.

Then came a delightful musical segment with Debashis Sengupta, Shubhra, and Milli, who filled the room with soft, melodious songs.

The surprise of the day was an amazing instrumental performance by Rajay Goyal, Renuka Goyal, Haren Mehta ,Jawahar Pathak, Sharat Amin, Suresh Patel, and Narayan Sharma. Their performance was absolutely brilliant and had everyone completely captivated!

Next up was the charming Diya Dance, performed by Ketki Ji, Sandhya Ji, Maneesha Ji, and Pallavi Ji—a truly perfect piece for the Diwali occasion.

We were then treated to a lively jugalbandi, with Hiren Mehta Ji on the tabla and Kirti performing a graceful Kathak. The audience loved every bit of it!

And to wrap it all up, we had a fun-filled fashion show featuring all our Humrahi members. Everyone joined in with such energy and enthusiasm—it was a joy to watch! A wonderful Katkak dance was performed by Dr. Kirti Nagpal.

All in all, it was a wonderful and successful event. Everyone enjoyed the performances, mingled with friends, and celebrated Diwali together in true festive spirit.

ISW celebrates AAPI Diwali at MA State House

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:23:38 GMT

ISW celebrates Diwali at MA State House by invitation from

Asian American Pacific Islander Commission of the Commonwealth of MA. More Photos here

--Jagan Srinivasan

ISW was proud to be represented at the Diwali Celebration at the Massachusetts State House, co-hosted by the AAPI Commission, AAPI Caucus, and BAPS. The beautifully organized event showcased how Diwali — the Festival of Lights — has been warmly embraced and celebrated throughout the Commonwealth.

The celebration was attended by dignitaries including Mr. Raghuram, Consul General of India in Boston, and Ms. Shruti Purushotam, Deputy Consul. ISW looks forward to collaborating closely with the Indian Consulate on community initiatives such as visa and passport support and future cultural projects.

At the event, AAPI recognized ISW members and volunteers Raj and Shiamin Melville for their outstanding contributions to the community and their ongoing involvement in various civic and cultural activities. A proud moment for ISW and the broader Indian community — celebrating culture, service, and unity in the heart of the State House.

Proud Moment for ISW at the ACF Gala!

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:53:12 GMT

--by Kelly Mittal

On October 3, 2025, the India Society of Worcester was honored to be recognized as a Partner Organization at the Asian Community Fund (ACF) Gala, held at the Westin Copley. The evening brought together over 700 Asian leaders, including members of the Asian Caucus in the Massachusetts Legislature, Governor Maura Healey, and Boston’s first Asian American Mayor, Michelle Wu. It was truly inspiring to see the incredible impact ACF, through The Boston Foundation, is making to strengthen and uplift the Asian community across Massachusetts. The event celebrated leadership, unity, and collaboration—values that ISW deeply shares. The recognition at the Gala reaffirms our commitment to building stronger partnerships and creating lasting impact through continued collaboration and engagement.

Attendees with Governor Maura Healey

ISW Karwachuath

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 23:05:42 GMT

- By Gitanjali Virmani

Karwa Chauth celebration at ISW was truly beautiful and devotional. The evening was filled with joy, tradition, and togetherness as married women observed the sacred fast for the long life and well-being of their husbands.

The program began with Karwa Chauth traditional puja sankalp by Pandit shivram Shama followed by Katha , traditional thali rotation and final moon sighting puja rituals.

✨ The atmosphere was vibrant with devotion, laughter, and cultural spirit.

Beautifully dressed ladies in traditional attire added grace and color to the celebration.

Special Thanks to Ekta Jain ji and Ekta Dance Academy for sponsoring Karwa queen and Mr Karwa. And many other gifts.

We thank everyone who participated and made this event so special. Special gratitude to all volunteers and organizers for their efforts in arranging the decorations, puja setup, and prasad distribution.

May Maa Parvati bless all with love, happiness, and prosperity.

ISW Diwali at Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 22:58:41 GMT

- By Rajesh Khare

ISW Lights up Downtown Boston with a Grand Diwali Celebration of Music, Dance and Dhol Tasha

Boston, MA - The India Society of Worcester (ISW) brought the spirit of Diwali to downtown Boston with a huge celebration at Faneuil Hall Marketplace that drew hundreds of visitors and performers. The large-scale event transformed one of the city’s busiest public spaces into a lively showcase of Indian culture, music, and dance.

Organized in collaboration with Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the celebration featured a wide range of performances, including classical music, Bharatanatyam, and Bollywood dance. The centerpiece of the evening was the Dhol Tasha performances - first by a group of children performing publicly for the first time, followed by a full-scale segment by adults that filled the marketplace with energy and drew enthusiastic applause from the crowd.

“Diwali at Faneuil Hall was a collective effort spanning across generations, from young children to grandparents,” said Ashok Kale, the event coordinator. “The weather was perfect, and the enthusiasm of the performers and volunteers made the event memorable. The blend of classical and contemporary performances reflected the richness of our culture.”

Carolyn Passey, a longtime ISW volunteer, praised the teamwork and organization behind the celebration. “The entire evening ran so smoothly,” she said. “The energy was incredible, and you could really tell how much effort went into making it happen. The crowd was fully engaged from start to finish.”

Colorful Aakash Kandil lanterns, traditional backdrops, and cultural activity booths added to the festive atmosphere, creating a setting that resonated with both Indian American families and the broader Boston community. Many attendees described the event as a reminder of home and a meaningful celebration of shared traditions.

Organizers noted that the large turnout reflected the growing interest in Indian cultural events across the region. They also emphasized ISW’s continuing efforts to create opportunities for youth engagement and cross-cultural connection.

“The success of this year’s celebration once again demonstrates the community’s enthusiasm and the impact of shared cultural experiences,” Kale said.

The Diwali celebration at Faneuil Hall marked one of ISW’s most successful downtown events to date, reinforcing its role in promoting Indian heritage and community engagement across Massachusetts.

Photos by Mukesh Tanwani, Ashish Cowlagi, Shiamin Melville, Rajesh Khare

ISW - PEN: Building wealth through Real Estate investing: Expert Panel Discussion

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 22:57:04 GMT

- By Kelly Mittal

The ISW Professionals and Entrepreneurs Network (PEN) hosted an engaging and insightful Real Estate Investment Panel, bringing together experts and community members eager to learn about building wealth through real estate.

Our panelists shared practical guidance on navigating today’s market — from evaluating investment opportunities and financing strategies to understanding rental income, property management, and tax implications. Attendees appreciated the open discussion, real-life examples, and the chance to ask questions directly to seasoned investors.

A special thank you to our panelists for generously sharing their knowledge and to all participants for making the session such an interactive and valuable experience.

Humrahee weekend celebrations in September, 2025

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 20:45:56 GMT

-submitted by Rajay Goyal

Fun times for the Humrahee group during the last weekend of September (27th and 28th of September). We started the weekend with a beautiful karaoke session led by Nithyajith Singh ji along with singers like Manishaji, Menakshiji and some of our own Humrahee singers like Narayanji and myself. The audience of more than 80 was enthralled, they sang, clapped and danced along to the beautiful rendition of the Bollywood classics. This was followed by the usual chai samosas and then a vigorous Garba dance that involved almost all the Humrahee folks dressed in pretty folky dresses. Sharatji gave a vote of thanks to everyone.

On Sunday , the 28th we had the Spirit of Shrewsbury Parade, an annual festival of our town. The Humrahee troupe of Sharatji Renukaji , myself alongwith Balki Laxmi and Jagan decorated the float beautifully. Several other Humrahee members joined the parade, played the Garba and Dandiya enroute creating curiosity and enthusiasm in the town residents.

The weekend celebration was ISW and Humrahee at its best. And not to forget many Humrahee members supported ISW-Saheli Walk on Sept 27, 2025 at Dean Park too, including Chair of Crisis- Kirti Nagpal

ISW and WAM Celebrate a decade of light - A history of the Diwali partnership

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:28:08 GMT

- By Arathi Cowlagi

ISW and WAM Celebrate a decade of lightA history of the Diwali partnership between the India Society of Worcester and the Worcester Art Museum

What began as a promising new partnership has blossomed into one of Worcester's most vibrant and beloved cultural events.This November, the India Society of Worcester (ISW) and the Worcester Art Museum (WAM) will mark the 10th year of their annual Diwali Community Day celebration. Over the last decade, this collaboration has grown from a single day of programming into an annual cultural fixture, drawing over a thousand plus visitors from the entire Central Massachusetts community.

Jagan Srinivasan captures the spirit of the first year!

A powerful beginning

The journey began with a shared vision to bring the ancient Indian festival of light to a broader audience in Worcester. A partnership between the India Society of Worcester and the Worcester Art Museum was a natural fit. With a mission to reach and connect communities through art, WAM was a great partner to bring these cultural traditions to a wider audience. ISW, a vibrant cultural and educational organization, was excited to share their Indian heritage on a larger scale.The first event was a testament to the power of collaboration, with ISW volunteers working alongside WAM staff to create a day of performances and programs for all ages.

Visitors fill the Renaissance Court for the cultural performances, picture by Ashish Cowlagi

Lamp lighting in the Covid year at the museum, before pivoting to virtual programming

Growing the flame

Year after year, the event has expanded, adding new layers of cultural richness. Even during the Covid year, this annual event pivoted and went virtual. Early celebrations featured essential elements like lamp-lighting ceremonies, traditional dances and vocal performances showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage, in WAM's magnificent Renaissance Court.

Over time, the program grew to include:

A lineup of classical & folk dances and vocal performances, including dances like Kathak, Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam
Talented local artists display traditional painting, sculpture, calligraphy
Docent led tours highlighting WAM's collection of art from the Indian subcontinent and its diaspora
Storytime by local authors
Delicious Indian cuisine from local vendors
Henna & craft activities for families, chess lessons for all ages
Foot tapping beats of Indian drums with ISW Dhol Tasha team

Visitors enjoy the always popular Henna

Talented local artists display- Susmita Bando featured here

Playing Chess

Troy B Thompson captures one of the many beautiful cultural performances

Children’s Storytime with Farhana Zia

A celebration for all

From its promising start, the Diwali celebration has solidified its place as a significant and much awaited annual event. WAM has helped ensure that the celebration is accessible to everyone, attracting record crowds by offering free admission for the day as a part of its partnership with the community.

”This event is now one of the most anticipated community traditions in Worcester” says Arathi Cowlagi, ISW volunteer and chair of this event for ISW. “It brings people of all backgrounds and ages together, to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.”

“The partnership is more than just an event; it's a living example of how a museum can serve as a true community hub, fostering intercultural understanding and celebrating the vibrant diversity of its city.” said Aileen Novick Manager of Public and Education Programs at Worcester Art Museum.

This November 2nd, Sunday from 10:30am to 4pm, the India Society of Worcester at the Worcester Art Museum invites the community to celebrate a decade of cultural collaboration and community spirit.

Learn about India’ and ISW table with Carolyn Passey

ISW Dhol Tasha team

ISW Garba Nights 2025!

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 11:22:56 GMT

- By Komal Tanna with Smita Manjrekar

ISW Garba Nights 2025!

What an incredible couple of nights!

On September 19 and 20 2025, the India Society of Worcester hosted back-to-back Garba and Dandiya celebrations, and the energy was off the charts.

Tickets disappeared a full week before the event, and it showed—both nights were buzzing from the first beat to the last spin.
Families, first-timers, long-time dancers, and a big Gen Z crew all jumped in. It was amazing to see every generation sharing the same rhythm and keeping the circle going late into the night.
Our venue at St George Cathedral came alive with music, lights, and the mouth-watering aroma of food from Chaitrali’s Kitchen and Mirchi Nation. From savory snacks to sweet treats of yummy desi flavored ice-cream from Tickett Ice-cream, this year we also had yummy Paan so nobody went home hungry.
Local vendors added to the fun with colorful stalls and unique finds be it jewelry from Arush collection and Mayin arts, clothing from Dream collection, Diwali decor from IRK collection and Festive collections, Art pieces from Meena arts & crafts, Fancy nails from V&P press on nails, Semper Laser hair removal.
And to keep the nights tempo going we had our super cool DJ’s!
A huge shout-out to DJ Raunak for making Friday night so special and super cool DJ Yogi on Saturday had the GenZ go crazy with his wonderful beats and singing! Yogi has been a long time ISW supporter, we wish his company Mint to Be Events super success in organizing group travel & wedding plannings.
Mesmerizing Mataji aarti was performed by more than 400 plus people each night, teaching the value of good over evil. Everyone got Mataji’s blessings in the form of yummy prasad prepared by enthusiastic volunteers.
Our dedicated volunteers from the Cultural committee, EB, Friends of EB. Your energy, planning, and teamwork made everything run so smoothly. We cannot Thank you enough. Such events are only run by teamwork which we can say proudly shows in every ISW event.

Thanks to everyone who came out, danced, and made these Garba Nights unforgettable. We’re already counting down to next year with a bigger and better event—see you on the dance floor again soon!

Another evening with Manoranjan – where singing is fun

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:30:31 GMT

Article by Rajay Goyal.

On a beautiful evening of autumn, we were treated to a delightful evening of Karaoke singing at the ISW community hall on Friday September 12. The day coincided with the birthday celebration of Mr. Suhas Shah, a longtime ISW member, who generously sponsored the evening. Just like before, this fourth celebration of Manoranjan – where singing is fun ®️ was a grand success, marked by enthusiastic participation of about thirty singers and an immersed audience who listened, danced to many of the songs and enjoyed themselves.

The evening was dedicated primarily to the songs acted on screen by the famous Shammi Kapoor. We also had songs sung by the famous Suraiya , from pre-independence era, an almost forgotten time, when films, just gaining synchronized audio capabilities were called “talkies”.

Along with our budding ISW artists, some of whom sang on stage for the first time, professional singers like our own Ms. Manisha Parmar, Mr. Debashis Sengupta and Guruji, graced the evening.

The master of ceremony, Narayanji’s Shero Sayari and humor bridged the gaps between the songs quite well and helped keep the audience stay engaged till the very end. Sharatji infused the dancers with a lot of energy and got the floor going.

The evening concluded with a sumptuous dinner and an announcement to meet again in October. A lot of people made this event a success, right from setting up chairs to bringing snacks and creating positive vibes.

As before, Manoranjan – where singing is fun ®️ lived up to its reputation of bringing the community of music lovers of all talent levels and ages together in a fun way.

Free Passes at NEBG at Tower Hill

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 21:00:33 GMT

NEBG at Tower Hill

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill has gifted two ISW organizational membership passes (3 per pass) to ISW, which can be used by our members. Please show the printed tickets upon arrival at the Garden for free general admission during the day only to Tower Hill. There are NO free passes ISW Diwali and Night Lights.

You are welcome to visit any other day for free and enjoy the garden.

Complete this form only for daytime visits AND send email to schoollead@iswonline.org. If you are not an ISW member, do consider becoming one.

ISW Recognized by Boston Celtics at Exclusive Event

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 01:22:19 GMT

Article by Rajesh Khare

13 Sept 2025 | Worcester, MA

It was a special day as the Boston Celtics recognized the India Society of Worcester (ISW) at an exclusive event held at the Auerbach Center, the team’s state-of-the-art practice facility overlooking the Boston skyline. It was an appreciation event by the Celtics for all their partners, and ISW was honored to be a part of this gathering.

This recognition builds on more than a decade of partnership between ISW and the Boston Celtics, dating back to 2010. Over the years, ISW has introduced Celtics fans to Indian culture through performances such as singing the National Anthem, presenting Bollywood dances, and showcasing traditional folk instruments.

Most recently, the ISW Symphony Dhol Tasha Lezim team delivered a rousing pregame performance at TD Garden on December 12, 2024, ahead of the Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons game. Volunteers filled the arena with the powerful beats of the Dhol, Tasha, Zanj, and Lezim. The performance was a proud moment for the entire community, captivating thousands of spectators with authentic rhythms of India.

Ragini Seth, an ISW volunteer who helped establish this partnership, reflected: “It all started with a group dancing to ‘Jai Ho’ on the parquet floor. Since then, ISW has brought Indian culture to Celtics fans in many ways.”

That spirit of collaboration and appreciation continues to thrive. ISW is grateful to the Boston Celtics for their recognition and looks forward to many more opportunities to celebrate the coming together of sports and culture.

ISW Ganeshotsav 2025

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 23:42:27 GMT

This year marked the 13th Ganeshotsav celebration at ISW, Shrewsbury, and it turned out to be a truly memorable occasion. The festivities opened with the grand Ganapati Aagman Miravnook (Lord Ganesha’s arrival procession), a vibrant and joyous tradition that set the tone for the day. A special highlight this year was the Dhol Tasha performance by children aged 6 to 12, who played with remarkable energy and confidence. For the first time in ISW’s history, the procession featured a Dhol Tasha presentation performed entirely by kids. Their spirited beats filled the air with excitement, and the audience responded with heartfelt applause, appreciating the dedication and enthusiasm of these young volunteers.Following the lively procession, the community came together for the Ganapati Puja and Arati rituals. The puja was led by six youth members — Atharv Deshpande, Surabhi Dindore, Arush Jagan, Pranjali Kanitkar, Sharvil Khamankar, Sharav Khare, - under the guidance of Pandit Shrikant Joshi. What made this ceremony especially meaningful was Shrikant ji’s thoughtful effort to explain each Sanskrit shloka in English, helping the youth not only recite but also understand the spiritual significance of each ritual.

Among the most anticipated moments of ISW Ganeshotsav was the Mega Arati, a tradition that always brings the community together in collective devotion. The entire hall echoed with voices singing in unison, accompanied by handheld percussion instruments. The atmosphere was charged with faith, joy, and boundless energy, making it one of the most cherished highlights of the day.The cultural segment added yet another layer of vibrancy to the celebration, showcasing the creativity and talents of community members. Enthusiastic volunteers presented a variety of art forms — from short skits and soulful music to lively dances — all offered with devotion to Bappa. This year’s theme, “Patterns in the Universe,” inspired a range of imaginative and thought-provoking performances. Children presented skits exploring mathematical and natural patterns, visual and musical rhythms, and even the fascinating balance between order and chaos. Dance sequences celebrated the changing seasons, while songs beautifully reflected the theme’s deeper symbolism. With over 40 performers on stage, the cultural showcase was a wonderful blend of tradition, artistry, and heartfelt devotion.

The event drew to a powerful close with the Ganapati Visarjan Miravnook (immersion procession), an emotional yet joyous farewell to Bappa. Children, adults, and senior citizens all joined together, dancing with boundless enthusiasm to the electrifying beats of Dhol, Tasha, and Lezim, performed by ISW Symphony.

The procession featured a vibrant mix of rhythms — from Nagpur Dhol and Garba patterns to Bhangra beats — filling the premises with energy, unity, and a spirit of celebration. A particularly meaningful moment was the immersion of the eco-friendly clay idol, symbolizing the life cycle where what comes from nature ultimately returns to nature.After the energetic procession, everyone enjoyed a delicious Maharashtrian dinner catered by Bombay Brunch, featuring festive favorites like Moong Usal, Aloo-Flower Rassa, Poori, Shrikhand, Masale Bhat, and more. This hearty meal not only satisfied the taste buds but also brought families together in the spirit of community and tradition.The celebrations concluded around 7 PM with the immersion of Ganapati Bappa, leaving everyone with hearts full of devotion, joy, and cherished memories that will be carried forward until next year’s celebration.

Pictures - Pictures / Videos

Pushpaji Celebration of Life

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 14:52:53 GMT

Pushpaji Celebration of Life:

--submitted by Shiamin Melville

Guests arrived at 9.30 am , and after speeches by Chanda, Sharad, Shiamin, Dr Mundra, Anjali, Maneesha, and Wandana, there was a Bhajan dedication by Sarita Deshpande and beautiful rendition on sitar by Usha Verma. We celebrated what would have been her 90th birthday with Cake and song dedication. Dr Kirti Nagpal emceed and share a video of her in last month, still boyuant full of verve

Brief Synopsis:

We are gathered here today to remember and celebrate the remarkable life of *Pushpa Joshi* — a beloved member of our community, a teacher, a pioneer, a mentor, and a dear friend.

Pushpa ji came to the United States in 1964, leaving behind the familiar in search of new opportunities alongside her husband. Like many immigrants, she arrived with hope,but what she built here went far beyond a life for herself. She helped create a home for *all of us*.

When Pushpa ji arrived, there was no Indian community center, no gathering place for cultural celebration or connection. There were just a few families meeting in each other’s homes, sharing aarti and potluck during Diwali, borrowing Hindi films and creating joy from whatever they had. And there was Pushpaji, right in the center of it all — organizing, connecting, and serving. She once made 100 puris for a community gathering.

She saw ISW grow from a small circle of friends into what it is today — the vibrant, inclusive, intergenerational community center we are all so proud of. Her memories are the story of ISW: hosting bhajans in borrowed halls and then reaching the huge milestone of breaking ground on our very own building in Shrewsbury. She also helped with establishing Learnquest, a premier Musical organization, and helped find the location at Waltham for them

One of her last messages to us was a simple but powerful wish: *that the children attending ISW school today would one day watch their own grandchildren grow up in this same community — rooted in heritage, but always evolving.

Pushpa ji’s legacy is not just in the halls of the ISW center, or the events she helped organize. Her true legacy lives in every child learning their mother tongue, in every elder who finds connection at Humrahee, in every family that finds a sense of belonging here. Her legacy is *us*.

Om Shanti.

ISW PEN and UniBank at a successful Business Luncheon

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 01:13:47 GMT

- By Kelly Mittal

ISW PEN Co-Chairs Ragoo and Kelly are thrilled to share that they had a highly successful and engaging meeting and luncheon on August 13, 2025 between the ISW PEN Business Owners group and UniBank. UniBank’s CEO, Michael Welch, was not only deeply engaged but also spoke with genuine pride about the growing partnership between UniBank and ISW. It was inspiring to witness the active participation from all attendees and the valuable exchange of ideas and resources.

A big shoutout to WEW Chair Snehal for bringing such a strong representation of women entrepreneurs, and thank you to former ISW President Puneet Kohli for thoughtful closing remarks. Special thanks to Anjali Paranjape for flawlessly organizing the event and serving as the vital bridge between UniBank and ISW.

And the cherry on top: UniBank generously gifted each attendee a card to donate $500 to a charity of their choice. We’re hopeful that many will choose ISW—so we may see some welcome support coming our way soon!

ISW Krishna Janamashtami

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 01:08:41 GMT

- By Geetanjali Virmani

What a beautiful and blissful Janmashtami celebration we had at the India Center!

A big THANK YOU to our incredible ISW family — devotees, volunteers, performers, sponsors( Dayal Family) , and our adorable little Kanha & Gopis — for making August 17, 2025 a truly memorable day filled with bhakti, smiles, and community spirit.

From soulful bhajans, Krishna Abhishek By Pandit Shivram Sharma ji, divine aarti, colorful kids’ parade , Dhai Handi to the delicious lunch Prashad, every moment reflected the love and dedication you all poured into this event.

Special appreciation to our Humrahee Group for soulful Bhajans , Our event sponsors Mr Rajiv & Priti Dayal and family for such delicious Lunch Prashaad and not to forget behind-the-scenes volunteers whose tireless efforts brought this celebration to life.

With everyone’s blessings and participation, ISW continues to preserve and share our rich cultural heritage in the heart of Shrewsbury.

Looking forward to seeing you at Religious Committee's next event. October 10th Karwachauth.

37th India Day at DCU by ISW

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 16:38:36 GMT

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

ISW Women DTL performs at WooSox - Indian Heritage Day

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:18:10 GMT

Event Recap: ISW Symphony Performs at WooSox Indian Heritage Day

On a vibrant and unforgettable evening at Polar Park in Worcester, ISW Symphony had the honor of performing the pregame entertainment for the Worcester Red Sox (WooSox) as part of the celebration of Indian Heritage Day on July 18th.

The Symphony’s Dhol-Tasha-Lezim ensemble was one of the standout moments of the event. What made this performance truly special was the all-women Dhol-Tasha team accompanied by enthusiastic kids on percussion — a powerful representation of cultural pride, inclusion, and youth engagement.

A total of 14 women and 5 children took to the home field, delivering an electrifying performance that brought folk traditions to the heart of a beloved American pastime. The group performed five unique renditions of traditional rhythms, creating a captivating musical journey that had spectators not just watching, but dancing and cheering along.

The children, thrilled to be part of the event, were especially excited to perform on a professional baseball field — a dream come true for many of them — and even got a chance to meet some of the WooSox players in person.

The performance was warmly received by the crowd and added a vibrant and rhythmic flavor to an already festive evening, showcasing the beauty of Indian culture through music and community spirit.

Women Performers

Anjali Kinhikar, Aishwarya Mungarwadi, Anuradha Bhogle, Manjiri Patil, Meenakshi Vaze, Pranita Deshmukh, Prasanna Pawar, Sakshi Gurao, Samyukta Warty, Sarita Deshpande, Sonia Gera, Veena Dindore, Vishakha Khamankar.

Kids Performers

Ayaan Sahasrabudhe, Arjun Sahasrabudhe, Cyrus Bhada, Maurya Pawar, Vedant Mungarwadi

Support Team

Arvind Kinhikar, Ashok Kale, Kaustubh Sahasrabudhe, Rajesh Khare, Sanket Gurao, Shamsnaz Bhada.

Pictures and Videos link

Celebration of life Pushpa Joshi August 10, 2025

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:33:04 GMT

All are invited to come celebrate Pushpaji's life, arranged by the Joshi family and ISW on August 10 Sunday 9.30 to 11.30 am.

Hosted by Sharad, Chanda and Wandana (Joshi Family) at India Center, Shrewsbury, MA. Do RSVP at this link Thank you. Pushpaji was an incredible role model for us and contributed to ISW successes and programs as captured in this article

Explore NEBG at Towerhill Garden at Twilight on Wednesdays & Thursdays

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 19:43:04 GMT

Explore the Garden at Twilight on Wednesdays & Thursdays or during the day

Enjoy a peaceful mid-week escape on Extended Wednesdays, complete with sunset, dinner and drinks, and a rotating showcase of local breweries and distilleries. Then don’t miss the fun with live music, lawn games, a craft beer garden, delicious dinner specials, and plenty of festive summer vibes on Thursday Summer Evenings.

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill has gifted two ISW organizational membership passes to ISW, which can be used by our members. Please show the printed tickets upon arrival at the Garden for free general admission to Tower Hill. Complete this form AND send email to schoollead@iswonline.org. If you are not an ISW member, do consider becoming one. One membership card admits three individuals for FREE, we have two, so 6 can visit per day.

ISW Symphony - Culinary Workshop Sessions

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 02:23:44 GMT

The Culinary Workshop took place on July 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the India Center. Approximately 15 attendees gathered to enjoy a delicious lineup of refreshing summer salads and snacks, presented by Priya Vaidya and Suchitra Agrawal.

Priya Vaidya began the session with a flavorful Maharashtrian Pohe snack, prepared using thin poha mixed with fresh ingredients like onions, cucumber, parsley, lemon juice, and nuts. Following that, Suchitra Agrawal presented a vibrant Corn Bhel Salad/Chaat, featuring onions, tomatoes, tamarind chutney, coriander, and other colorful components.

Priya then shared two more creative dishes—an exciting Ponk Salad and a refreshing salad topped with creamy avocado dressing.

The attendees thoroughly enjoyed the workshop, praising both the presentation and the delicious samples. The 90-minute session was very well received and appreciated by the community.

Pictures and Video by Sarita Deshpande

Indian Heritage Night at Woo Sox Polar Park July 18, 2025

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 01:36:40 GMT

Summary:

Link to pictures:

The event began with many bangs (DHOL) and ended with many bangs (Fireworks) The all women's ISW Symphony Dhol Tasha Lezim initiated the festivities and Polar Park resounded with the drum beats for the first time ever. This captivating folk rhythm showcase represented the rich cultural heritage of India and grabed the attention of the crowd with its powerful beats, colorful traditional attire, and synchronized movements. The Dhol Tasha Lezim ensemble is a traditional street-style percussion performance that is commonly seen during festivals and celebrations in India. The thunderous sound of the dhols (barrel drums), the sharp rhythm of the tashas (snare drums), and the dynamic movements of lezim dancers came together to create a high-energy, visually spectacular experience.

The two National Anthem were rendered by the students of ISW School and we are proud of Aadhya Madireddy, Arjun Sahasrabudhe, Arna Majmudar, Ayaan Sahasrabudhe, Diya Nowley, Eera Dixit, Ishan Dixit, Jasmin Grover, Kaavia Nowley, Kris Grover and Vindhya Madireddy.

Dr Satya Mitra was recognized as the Hometown Hero CFP, for for service to their city, and community. Along with his wife Sheema, he founded a charitable foundation, Joy Guru Humanitarian Services, a non-profit, dedicated to supporting the disadvantaged, including those facing poverty and homelessness, along with empowering women and girls and offering scholarships to needy students. He has been recognized with various honors and accolades for his sincere community service and philanthropy. He received the prestigious Key to the City of Worcester from the Mayor and is included in the Worcester Business Journal Hall of Fame, Power 100 in Central Massachusetts, Hometown Hero by Worcester Magazine, Harvey Ball Smiley Award by the Museum of Worcester, Advocate of the Year award by Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Community Kindness Award by 365Z organization and was awarded twice as the Rotarian of the year.

As part of the Color Guard, the following individuals were chosen.
Ruchi Chauhan plays a key role in the ISW, particularly in the realm of education and cultural programs for the ISW school and language programs. Her leadership as School Chair and her contributions as a Hindi teacher have been recognized by the community Her inclusive nature has held a team of more than 35 volunteer teachers, that run the weekend lang school She has worked at Beal School as a school teacher and currently runs the Kumon Center in Worcester, Ma

Puneet Kohli, past President and Vice President of ISW for the last 8 years, has guided ISW with a steady hand with support of innovative programming and doubling of the building footprint of India Center, in order to meet the increasing numbers of Indian Community in the surrounding area. His vision for Expanded India Center is to become a year-round community asset, open to all. He encouraged community members to utilize these resources and help create a vibrant center and his leadership helps facilitate this volunteer-driven model.

Ceremonial First Pitch: Pitching the first ball, Rajiv Dayal has been a dedicated volunteer for over 20 years, serving as Treasurer and President in the past.He oversaw the expansion of the India Center in Shrewsbury and is currently the Chair of the ISW's Governance Committee. His other community work includes holding leadership positions with the Mohegan Council, Inc. (Worcester Council of the Boy Scouts of America As a partner at Cohen Cohen & Company, a public accounting firm in Boston, MA, his experience in auditing, business consulting, and tax services has been the bedrock of ISW's strength and continued success.

Celebrates a special individual on the field: Ragini Seth has been an active and dedicated member of the India Society of Worcester for over twenty years, She initiated the partnership with Celtics in 2010 and has continues her ties with ISW Though currently living in Sugarland Texas, she still teaches online Hindi for ISW School

Shiamin Melville started as a ISW School parent, and ran the ISW School from 2006 to , and continues the work in developing programs for ISW University. Has served as Chair of ISW Gala and ISW Nominations Committee her focus is building partnerships with New England Botanical Garden and Woo Sox annual cultural events.

ISW was recognized as the Heart of Worcester, for their work in the community. The broadcast by Balki Chandrakasan during the 4th inning at Radio Room captured the many new events and programs happening at India Center at 152 Main Street, in Shrewsbury, MA since 1962

Tanvi Reddy, student of Bhuvana Ganesh sang 'Take me out to the Ball Game' beautifully on top of the dugout during the seventh inning She also helped train the ISW School kids for the national Anthem

Patrons also enjoyed Indian street food at A Taste of Worcester section catered by 'Namaste Woo'

It all ended with beautiful fireworks sponsored by Unibank Thank you to all who came and thanks to Woo Sox for their Partnership

Announcement: Woo Sox is again partnering with ISW to celebrate Indian Heritage Night at Woo Sox Polar Park

This event is a celebration of Indian culture, community, and contributions — and a moment of pride as several members of our ISW family will be honored during the pregame ceremonies from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM.

ISW Honorees and Participants:

Hometown Hero CFP – Dr. Satya Mitra
Honoring an individual for extraordinary service to their town, city, or community.
Ceremonial First Pitch – Rajiv Dayal
Kicking off the game in true ISW spirit.
Specialty Recognition – Ragini Seth & Shiamin Melville
Celebrating two individuals who have made lasting cultural contributions to ISW and the broader community.
Game Ball to the Mound – TBD (ISW School Student)
A young ISW student (under age 12) will deliver the ceremonial ball to the pitcher’s mound.
Play Ball! Ceremony – TBD (ISW School Student)
Student will end the pregame program with the classic “Play Ball!” shout.
On-Field Performance – ISW Dhol Team
A 10-minute performance showcasing the energy and rhythm of our heritage.
Color Guard: Ruchi Chauhan/Puneet Kohli

To carry Indian flag /USA Flag

Performance of Indian and American National Anthem-ISW School

We invite all ISW families and friends to join us for this memorable night. Show your support, enjoy the festivities, and cheer on our honorees.

Purchase Tickets Here:

ISW & Woo Sox 2025 Indian Heritage Night

https://iswonline.org/event-6151348

Community Gathers for the Inauguration of New Gazebo at India Center

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:01:50 GMT

Shrewsbury, MA — On Saturday, May 31, 2025, the India Center in Shrewsbury was the site of a heartwarming community gathering as members of the India Society of Worcester (ISW), along with Rajesh and Kavita Dharampuriya and family, celebrated the grand inauguration of a beautifully constructed gazebo.

Despite the morning’s rain, the skies cleared just in time for the 10:00 AM ribbon-cutting ceremony that officially opened the gazebo for public use. The gazebo, generously donated by the Dharampuriya family, now stands in the recreation area of the India Center, which also features pickleball court, a children’s playground, and a mural by artist Suchitra Shinde. The structure, thoughtfully designed as a space for connection, reflection, and celebration, stands as a testament to the family’s commitment to fostering togetherness and cultural unity. Rajesh Dharampuriya shared gratitude to everyone who joined the occasion and expressed hope that the gazebo would become a vibrant space for generations to come.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Ashish Cowlagi, former President of ISW, noted, “Our ISW sports team has over 500 active members who enjoy the India Center’s growing recreation facilities. This gazebo is a wonderful addition that enhances our ability to bring people together for events, relaxation, and shared moments.”

Immediately following the inauguration, gazebo’s first official event was a Havan ceremony organized by the ISW Religious Committee to bless and honor newly graduated students—a meaningful start to the structure’s intended purpose as a space for community celebration and reflection.

Guests enjoyed light refreshments following the ceremony. ISW President Prof. Jagan Srinivasan thanked all attendees and volunteers, expressing heartfelt appreciation for the collective effort to make the event a memorable success.

A special thank you goes to Carolyn Passey, Usha Verma, and Geena Virmani for their valuable support in helping bring this celebration to life.

For more information, visit https://www.iswonline.org/

- Suchitra Shinde

Vaijayanti Joshi (Pushpa) passed away peacefully on May 28, 2025

Fri, 30 May 2025 18:00:07 GMT

---Telegram & Gazette

Vaijayanti Joshi (Pushpa), age 89, passed away peacefully on May 28, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Relatives and friends are invited to a period of calling hours on Sunday, June 1, 2025 from 2-5 pm in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. Her funeral service will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: India Society of Worcester, Attn: India Center Campaign Committee, PO Box 136, Shrewsbury, MA. 01545

Born in India, the eldest of her generation, Pushpa’s life journey took her across continents, from Pune India to Guelph Canada, Worcester and Hopkinton Massachusetts in the US. She lived a remarkable and inspirational life, defined by resilience, wisdom, and an unwavering devotion to her family. She was a dedicated wife to Harihar Joshi. She guided her children and grandchildren through many challenges and took great pride in seeing them thrive. She was also blessed to witness the joy of five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Pushpa was the beloved matriarch of her family, soft-spoken yet deeply respected by all who had the privilege of knowing her. In addition to the dedication to her family, she worked professionally her entire life. She earned her Masters Degree in Library Science and Social Work, worked in the Worcester public schools, helped to run the Prospect House in dedicated community work, and in partnership with her husband, built Omega Medical Labs in Oxford. She later was the Activities Director at the Jewish Community Center in Worcester.

She was active in the community and dedicated to the India Society of Worcester for over 50 years, growing it from a small, dedicated group of people to an incredibly thriving center today. As an ordained Hindu minister, she joined many happy couples in marriage. She continued to inspire and support her community until her final days. She also loved writing, published three books, was creative with painting, pottery, knitting and was a legendary Indian cook. Her life was shaped by strength, grace, and profound insight, which she generously shared with a wide network of friends and loved ones. She was admired for her warmth, kindness, and gentle humor.

Above all, Pushpa will be remembered for the immense love she gave and the deep impact she had on the lives of those around her. Her enduring spirit and compassionate heart leave a legacy that will continue to inspire for generations.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her family and all who knew her.

Recognition of ISW Youth Volunteers

Wed, 28 May 2025 12:55:57 GMT

On March 17th, 2025 we recognized our youth volunteers with awards and certificates. Kunal Chauhan, President SHS Student Council, ISW School Student Teacher, ISW University Robotics, and Lego Tuto shared information on 'How to find Youth Volunteer Opportunities' around this area ?' and Pranav Krishnan, President IYG shared information of youth volunteer opportuinites at ISW and Sharad Mehta shared interesting projects by the Rotary Club

It was followed by the presentation of ISW Youth Volunteer Certificates and PVSA Awards, by Kamlesh Khilnani, on behalf of Jagan Srinivasan, President, India Society of Worcester. Ice Cream provided by Tickett Ice Cream, and snacks were served.

Awardees:

Pratap Srivastava ISW Volunteer Certificate
ThanmayeVennavaram ISW Volunteer Certificate
Ishita Agrawal ISW Volunteer Certificate
Rohan Savla ISW Volunteer Certificate
Aditi Jayendran PVSA GOLD
Arin Shinde PVSA SILVER
Arush Jagan PVSA GOLD
Ayan Mishra PVSA GOLD
Dhruv Jagan PVSA GOLD
Kartikeya Nekenti PVSA GOLD
Mahati Jayendran PVSA GOLD
Medhansh Choudhury PVSA BRONZE
Prisha Rathi PVSA SILVER
Rakshana Subramanian PVSA BRONZE
Siddharth Gowtham PVSA GOLD
Sohan Hegde PVSA GOLD
Suhrit Ghosh PVSA SILVER
Tanushree Nekenti PVSA GOLD

A Tapestry of Unity: ISW Celebrates Eid with Joy and Community Spirit

Thu, 15 May 2025 13:08:10 GMT

--submitted by Dhiren Savla

A Tapestry of Unity: ISW Celebrates Eid with Joy and Community Spirit

This spring May 4, 2025, the India Society of Worcester (ISW) marked a meaningful milestone by celebrating Eid for the first time in few years—bringing together families, friends, and neighbors from across cultures for an afternoon filled with warmth, tradition, and shared joy. Held on a cool Sunday at the ISW Community Hall, the event highlighted the richness of Islamic heritage while fostering the spirit of unity that defines the ISW community.

The celebration began with a warm welcome address by ISW President Jagan Srinivasan, whose words set a thoughtful and inclusive tone for the day. He was followed by Sanjay Shah, who shared heartfelt words of encouragement, recognizing the significance of the event and the importance of building community.

The hall was transformed into a cheerful Meena Bazaar-style marketplace, complete with stalls offering vibrant clothing, intricate jewelry, and handmade crafts. Volunteers added special touches with beautifully intricate henna by Sumera Amir and elegant Urdu calligraphy by Sana Maqsood, both of which drew a steady stream of eager participants. A cultural booth showcased the many ways Islamic culture has contributed to Indian society, while guests had fun trying on traditional garments at the ever-popular photo booth.

Guiding the day with warmth and enthusiasm were event MCs Umraz and Komal, who helped keep the energy high and the program flowing seamlessly. Their presence added a welcoming touch that brought everyone together.

Throughout the afternoon, music set the tone for celebration. Performances by the ISW Symphony, Yash Naik, Sudhakar, Mustafa Taj, Sharat Amin, and the energetic Haynes Farm Gang brought people to their feet and smiles to their faces. Artist Avni Chheda created a special moment by leading a community art activity, inviting over fifty attendees—young and old—to help co-create a collaborative painting that beautifully reflected the day’s spirit of inclusion.

Of course, no celebration is complete without food. Volunteers and local restaurants served up a delightful array of Eid delicacies and desserts, offering guests a flavorful experience that paired perfectly with the afternoon’s festivities.

This event was made possible through the hard work and dedication of many. A heartfelt thanks goes out to community volunteers Asiya, Tabassum, Hathun, Shehla, Sabreena, Sameena, Shaista, Shazia, Umraz, and Yasmin, whose efforts were essential in bringing the event to life. Special appreciation also goes to the ISW team—Smita, Komal and Shilpa for their leadership and ISW Cultural team for their coordination.

The success of this event is a proud achievement for the ISW Cultural Team, who brought their vision of a cross-cultural Eid celebration to life with creativity and heart. It’s a celebration that many will remember—and one that promises to become a beloved annual tradition, paving the way for more inclusive and diverse events at ISW in the future.

ISW Bridge grows by leaps and bounds

Thu, 15 May 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Started three years ago by Bridge enthusiasts Sanjay Shah and Vikram Udeshi, the weekly Bridge group has grown rapidly and now meets at the ISW India Center thrice weekly at 7pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. What started initially as an introductory set of Bridge lessons to get novice players started; has now become a very enjoyable pastime for many. Several of the players were just introduced to Bridge and are now regular players.

The introductory Bridge classes are now in their third year and the latest class of over 25 learners have made significant progress in picking up the basics of the game.

Tuesday evenings at ISW are typically packed with 20+ advanced players playing duplicate or rubber Bridge in a separate room while ongoing classes are conducted by Sanjay, ably assisted by Vikram, Dhiren Savla and Kapeel Krishana.
We are also fortunate to have Adi Chehna, a national competitive Bridge player to provide mentoring and guidance to the Bridge group.

Join the Bridge interest group on WhatsApp to learn more. Look out for a future announcement for afternoon Bridge sessions for those who cannot join in the evening.

ISW PEN - Sell Smart: Unlocking Procurement Opportunities Workshop

Thu, 15 May 2025 02:49:36 GMT

Earlier this month, we held a workshop on unlocking procurement opportunities in partnership with LEAF, Local Enterprise Assistance Fund ! We are grateful to our partners at Asian Community Fund (ACF) that funds this through ABEC, the Asian Business Empowerment Council who organized the event at ISW and provide lunch for the attendees.

Attendees heard from Amine Benali, Managing Director at LEAF, Amanda LaCroix, Director of Programs and Engagement at the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, and David Cho, Chief Procurement Officer at Harvard University. Businesses learned everything from what being certified with the SDO means and how this unlocks more opportunities, what it means to work with an anchor institution, and learned actionable steps to elevate your business when going after procurement opportunities.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and a big thank you to our insightful speakers for helping out our small businesses! If you are interested in attending such events, please feel free to contact us at pen@iswonline.org. Check out parts of the presentation on FB live on ISW Facebook page.

Let's celebrate her

Thu, 15 May 2025 02:32:25 GMT

What a wonderful evening it was to "Celebrate HER",

Showcasing unity and strength!

Expressing creativity and individuality!

Uplifting and inspiring moments!

Enjoying with fun and laughters!

Appreciating very well deserved community influencers.

And creating beautiful memories.

Thank you everyone for gracing us with your presence and supporting ISW-WEW (Women Empowering Women) program. You are all making an huge impact in the society with a beautiful today and even better tomorrow.

A special thank you to Priyanka Manish Jaiswal and her son for capturing stunning photographs.

And sincere thanks to Preeti Khilnani for all your invaluable support throughout the event.

View photos at: https://priyankajaiswal.smugmug.com/ISW-WEW-Women-Empowering-Women/n-VqJ7XD

ISW Visual Art Festival 2025 Celebrates Prakruti- Beauty of Nature!

Thu, 15 May 2025 02:25:29 GMT

The ISW Symphony team transformed the India Center into a vibrant hub of artistic expression on Saturday, May 3rd, as it hosted the much-anticipated ISW Visual Art Festival 2025. Running from 3 PM to 7 PM, the event drew a diverse crowd of art enthusiasts, families, and community members, all eager to celebrate local talent and creativity.

This year’s festival theme was ‘Prakruti- Beauty of Nature’ . The event was an impressive showcase of visual art by local artists, who displayed a wide range of works—from traditional Indian-inspired paintings to modern mixed media pieces. The colorful exhibits provided a platform for both emerging and established artists to share their art and connect with the community.

Some highlights included Java Mehta, from the Academy of Creative Arts shared her artistic journey with the audience. Susmita Bando presented to the audience her thoughts on creative connections between Indian Classical and Folk visual Art with the 20th century art of the contemporary West.

Adding to the interactive spirit of the afternoon were two creative workshops, which invited participants of different ages to explore their own artistic potential. Whether it was the one stroke painting on canvas taught by Shilpa Adduri, who also did a wonderful ‘live art’ demonstration or our other creative workshop experimenting with clay to create artwork at the Lippan Art workshop conducted by Sunanda Sahay, attendees enjoyed hands-on experiences.

Another highlight of the event was the Kids Art Contest, where young artists from across the community proudly displayed their creations. The contest brought out a wonderful energy, as families gathered to cheer on the next generation of artists and the contestants were ably judged by Susmita Bando and Sunanda Sahay, both of whom are accomplished artists.

Art Competition ISW winners-

Oil Pastels (5-9yrs)
Aadhya Tyagi - 1st
Dhwani Patel - 3rd

Acrylic painting (10-15yrs)

Sriansha Verma -1st
Sophie Kashwan - 2nd
Pranika Arun - 3rd

Thank you to Swara Gurao and Shanali Patil, our young volunteers who helped with the art contest.

Festival-goers also had the opportunity to browse and shop at booths hosted by vendors featuring handcrafted items, including jewelry, home decor, and artisan gifts. The marketplace added a unique flair to the event, celebrating craftsmanship and supporting local entrepreneurs.

A big shout out to our amazing vendors and donors who donated for our giveaway baskets,

Neha Ujlayan
Hustham by Gavoury Kumar
Art by Khushboo
The Neem Tree co by Rashmi Deshpande
CraftZ360 by Shweta Shah
Meena Art & Craft by Meenakshi Krishnamoorthy
Art Decor Collective by Archana Nambiar

We also had Moon House showcasing their pottery for the first time.

Of course, no celebration at the India Center would be complete without delicious food! Guests savored an array of Indian dishes and snacks, which added flavor to the already festive atmosphere.

The ISW Visual Art Festival 2025 was not just a celebration of art—it was a reflection of community spirit, cultural pride, and creative collaboration. With strong attendance and enthusiastic participation, the event reinforced ISW’s role as a cornerstone for cultural enrichment in Central Massachusetts.

For more information about upcoming ISW events, visit iswonline.org

ISW Antakshari – the melody of community!

Thu, 01 May 2025 01:23:12 GMT

Tune into togetherness, sing in unity

ISW Antakshari – the melody of community!

What an unforgettable Antakshari event!

This year, we introduced an exciting new Jeopardy-style format in the final rounds, and the response was overwhelming! The crowd brought amazing energy, making the event vibrant, fun, and truly memorable.

A huge round of applause and congratulations to all the winners!

Agne team for winning First Prize, Nimish Gera & Arpan Ghosh
Baazigar team for securing the Second Prize, Padmini Dey & Hema Rani
Rangile team for taking home the Third Prize, Divya & Pawan Lalwani

This year, we shook things up with a brand new Jeopardy-style finale, and the crowd loved it!

Behind the scenes, a lot of hard work by the Cultural Team, in collaboration with the Dream Team, made the magic happen:

Arun Radhakrishnan – The mastermind behind the custom Jeopardy software. It was creative, fun, and took the finals to another level!
Ashok Kale – Bursting with energy and ideas, Ashok’s creativity and content kept the team buzzing and the show flowing.
Harish Patil – Judge extraordinaire! With unmatched knowledge of Bollywood music, Harish helped shape a truly exciting competition.
Narayan Sharma & Sharat Amin –Ever-reliable, ever-encouraging, and always ready to jump in, always supportive, always smiling.

A few special shout-outs:

Sunita Ramnani – Your dance videos added sparkle to the ‘Aaja Nachle’ category. Thank you for stepping up with such joy!
Gautam Bhuva – Thank you for capturing the laughter, excitement, and energy in every frame.

To every participant, audience member, and volunteer - you brought this event to life. We couldn't have done it without you!

Huge thanks to Narayan Sharma, and Ekta & Anand Jain for treating us to delicious snacks and warm chai! ☕

MR. Sanjay Shah, thank you staying for the entire event. Your support in distributing the awards made it even more special!!

Cultural Team added another feather to their cap with a vibrant, joy-filled Antakshari event.

It wasn’t just a game—it was a celebration of togetherness, one song at a time!

-- Truly Grateful, ISW Cultural Committee!!!

Vitthalbhai Bhakta: Memorial Service

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 01:03:31 GMT

---Yogesh Parikh on behalf of Bhakta Family

Vitthalbhai “Victor” Sanmukhlal Bhakta
June 17, 1950 — April 22, 2025

HOLLYWOOD, FL/BOLTON, MA - Vitthalbhai “Victor” Sanmukhlal Bhakta was born in the rural village of Bajipura, Gujarat, India where he spent his childhood surrounded by his parents, four brothers, and countless cousins. At the age of 11, Vitthalbhai immigrated to San Francisco with his family. He came to the United States not knowing any English, but faked it until he made it in the San Francisco public school system. He worked with the family running (and later owning) motels and in 1977, he returned to India with his younger brother to find a wife.

Vitthalbhai met Bhartiben and it was love at first sight - at least for him! He managed to persuade her and they were married after knowing each other for a few days. They have led an incredible life together full of love and would have celebrated 48 years of marriage on May 1st. After the wedding, Vitthalbhai infamously went on the honeymoon- alone. He traveled to Japan, Africa, and the Middle East, while Bhartiben had to remain in India awaiting to finish her studies and visa. They first moved to San Francisco, living in the family home, and later to San Jose where they opened a graphic design and printing business and their daughter Deepti was born. Eventually, Vitthalbhai found a new opportunity in Massachusetts and the family settled in as the owners of the Clinton Motor Inn. Not long after, the family welcomed a son, Roshan in 1984.

Ever the entrepreneur and risk-taker, Vitthalbhai also tried various other enterprises alongside the motel, his adventures ranged from gas station owner (& attendant!) to operating the only ice cream truck in town that also served samosas! The true testament of his tenacity was the decision to purchase the Holiday Inn in Leominster and convert it into an assisted living facility. Manor on the Hill has been a family-owned business since 1997 and continues to be run by Vitthalbhai’s son, Roshan. Vitthalbhai continued to build his businesses, working with Bhartiben and extended family members to explore opportunities and co-own various hotels and assisted livings across the country. Vitthalbhai’s independent thinking, desire to follow his passion combined with the risks he took enabled an amazing life filled with so many deeply meaningful experiences, unique circle of friends and a greater appreciation of the finer things in life.

One of those finer things in Vitthalbhai’s life was music. He sang, played the harmonium, the dholak, and the keyboard. Each time he returned to India, he would make a point to learn more songs and music. He shared his musical talents at many bhajans, garbas, and gatherings. In fact, he even recorded his own album alongside a full orchestra of professional musicians. Whenever music was playing, he could be found tapping his feet, hands, and humming along. Many, many people have enjoyed and found comfort in his singing. We will always think of him and his love for music and how he was able to use it to bring light and love into the lives and hearts of those around him.

Vitthalbhai became an important part of the community, proudly serving with the Rotary Club as well as being a vital member of the India Society of Worcester. His desire to be of service to others showed through his countless hours volunteering at the soup kitchen, and being available to sing at bhajans, garbas or just start antakshari at the drop of a dime. Even though Vitthalbhai spent most of his adult life away from India he always remained deeply connected to his roots and remained spiritual throughout his life. Most notably he organized taking teachers to India on behalf of the Rotary club as well as other charitable causes to improve lives abroad.

In more recent years, Vitthalbhai enjoyed working less and playing more. He went on many travel adventures with his wife and family. In the last year alone, he went to India, Japan, the Dominican Republic, and of course, across the US visiting friends & family. Vitthalbhai and Bhartiben enjoyed splitting their time between Hollywood, FL and Bolton, MA. He may have preferred Florida for the hot weather, but was always glad to be back in Massachusetts spending time with his granddaughters. He also loved to be back in the land of champion sports teams, and was likely to be spotted wearing a Patriots hat and/or sweatshirt any time of the year.

Vitthalbhai’s most cherished role was as husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Bharti Vitthal Bhakta, daughter Deepti Vitthal Bhakta-Johns, son Roshan Vitthal Bhakta, their spouses Gregory David Johns, Tessa Stratton Lundquist, and his four granddaughters, Lali Diane Bhakta-Johns, Neeva Rosaline Bhakta-Johns, Shyla Phoenix Bhakta-Johns, and Aaxa Kristen Bhakta. There is no question that Vitthal’s greatest joy was his family. He and Bhartiben were not simply husband and wife, they were truly partners in life, working together in business and in raising their family. Vitthalbhai was most proud of Deepti and Roshan and never wavered in his support of them. “Dada” will be greatly missed by his beloved granddaughters. He would be smiling constantly when spending time with them. He had an indescribable bond with each one of them and gave them a lifetime’s worth of love. We are incredibly grateful for the time his granddaughters got to spend with him, and know that his spirit remains alive in them.

Vitthalbhai was preceded in death by his brother Thakorbhai Sanmukhbhai Bhakta. He is also survived by his brothers, Bhartbhai & Urmilaben Bhakta (San Francisco, Ca), Jagdishbhai & Pushpaben Bhakta (Madera, Ca), and Arvinbhai & Padmaben Bhakta (Sunnyvale, Ca), and many, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who were family.

While words like genuine, kind and steadfast are often heard, they describe Vitthalbhai perfectly. He was loved and respected by many, many people all across the globe. Vitthalbhai’s family, friends, and community will love and remember him forever, will carry his spirit, and will move forward with the quiet strength and sense of humor that he always exuded.

In lieu of gifts, the family suggests considering a donation to the Alzheimer's Association, one of Vitthalbhai's favorite charities in his memory.

Announcement for Repast - Vitthalbhai Bhakta

Bhartiben, Deepti, Roshan, and the entire Bhakta family have expressed their sincere appreciation for your invaluable support and presence this week, especially during the final rites rituals and service for our dear friend Vitthalbhai Bhakta last Friday at the India Center of ISW in Shrewsbury. The touching display of your affection and respect for Vitthalbhai has meant a lot to the family. Now, they'd like to have an opportunity to celebrate Vitthalbhai's life and legacy with friends and well-wishers.

A Memorial Service (Barmu) has been scheduled to:
· Celebrate Vitthalbhai's life while also providing a graceful closure with 12th & 13th day rituals, which are an important part of the grieving process in our culture,
· Recite a few of his favorite bhajans,
· Gather family and friends to recall and relive the memories of Vitthalbhai,
· Talk about what he meant to others, what we learned from him, his influence on the others, and memorable moments with him.

DATE: Sunday, May 4, 2025
TIME: 10:00 AM onward
PLACE: B.A.P.S. Temple
LOCATION: 275 Turnpike Rd, Westborough, MA 01581; 508-366-2277

10:00 AM - Arrival, Tea, and Connect
10:30 (Sharp) - Memorial Service, Bhajans, Sharing of Memorable Moments and Impressions,
12:30 PM Onward - Lunch

Your presence will help us celebrate Vitthalbhai's legacy and the impact he had on all of us. We hope you can join us at this memorable repast. The Bhakta family is deeply grateful for your support during this period of reflection and look forward to seeing you and sharing memories together. We would also appreciate if you forwarded this announcement to others who need to be informed.

Regards, Yogesh (on behalf of the Bhakta family)

ISW Stands in Solidarity with Victims of the Pahalgam Attack

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 21:29:36 GMT

--submitted by Jagan Srinivasan, President, India Society of Worcester

ISW Stands in Solidarity with Victims of the Pahalgam Attack

April 26, 2025

The India Society of Worcester mourns the lives lost and offers our heartfelt condolences to the families and communities affected by the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

In this time of profound sorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with every individual touched by this tragedy. Though such senseless violence seeks to divide us, it only strengthens our collective determination to heal together.

We at ISW stand firmly committed to nurturing solidarity, unity, and compassion—embracing one another as we work toward a future of peace and mutual understanding.

ISW - Learnquest Music Evening

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 01:12:17 GMT

An Enchanting Evening of Music at the India Center

Last Saturday, while rain drizzled outside and the chill in the air lingered, the India Center became a haven of warmth, coziness, and enchantment—thanks to the magic of music. ISW, in collaboration with Learnquest Academy of Music, presented a Classical Music Recital as part of a pre-conference program for Learnquest’s upcoming Music Conference.

The evening kicked off with the calming prayer "Hamko Mann Ki Shakti Dena," based on Raga Kedar from the Hindi film Guddi. ISW’s Vocal Ensemble, accompanied by Yash Naik on tabla, set the perfect tone, enveloping the audience in a peaceful, melodic atmosphere.

Indian Classical Music is divided into two major traditions: Hindustani Sangeet (from Northern India) and Carnatic Sangeet (from the South). The event’s journey took the audience to the heart of Southern India with an exceptional performance by Smt. Tara Anand’s students from Anubhav School of Music. They were joined by Sudarshan Thirumalai on the mridangam, Prahlad Chakravarthy on the kanjira, and Sahana Venkatesh on the veena, showcasing the brilliance of Carnatic music.

Many popular songs and melodies are inspired by Hindustani Classical ragas, and this was the focus of a fascinating Lecture Demonstration by Shuchita Ji Rao. She took the attendees on a musical tour from core classical forms like Khayal and Tarana, to folk songs and film hits. Her students brought these pieces to life with beautiful renditions, offering a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

The magic continued with a special presentation by the ISW Vocal Ensemble, who performed a medley of Hindi movie songs inspired by Raga Yaman, often called the “king of Ragas.” The ensemble’s intricate weaving of melodies, with tiny sargams added in between, created a mesmerizing musical garland that captured the essence of Yaman in various genres.

Vocal Ensemble Group:
Anju Shukla, Aruna Tikkare, Kiran Mayi, Rashmi Subramanian, Sandhya Patel, Sandipa Barat, Sarita Deshpande, Shipra Gupta, Suhana Shah, Usha Yadav, Veena Dindore, Yatin Manjrekar
Guitar: Kavi Wagholikar
Tabla: Yash Naik
Harmonium: Sarita Deshpande

The grand finale of the evening featured the brilliant Hindustani classical vocal performance by Vidushi Ruchira Panda, an exponent of the Kotali Gharana. Her rendition of Raga Yaman Vilambi Khayal, followed by Drut Khayal and Tap-Khayal, was a feast for the ears, with a deeply expressive Aalap and Taan that captivated the audience. She concluded with a Thumari composed by her guru, Shri Manas Chakraborty. Every progression of her swaras, from Mandra Saptak to Taar Shadaj, was delivered with finesse, creating breathtaking moments that were nothing short of magical.

The event was attended by ISW and Learnquest members, along with their families and friends, all of whom left with an overwhelming sense of joy and inspiration. The community has expressed a strong desire for more such classical and semi-classical music programs at the India Center, and we look forward to creating more unforgettable musical experiences in the future!

Let the magic of music continue!

Pictures by Govind Dindore

Boston Bursts with Color at ISW Holi Celebration at Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 02:26:05 GMT

Boston Bursts with Color at ISW Holi Celebration at Faneuil Hall Marketplace

By Rajesh Khare

March 16, 2025, Boston, MA – The historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace came alive with colors as the India Society of Worcester (ISW) hosted an energetic Holi celebration, the Festival of Colors. The event attracted hundreds of community members and visitors, providing an authentic experience of this vibrant Indian festival.

The celebration kicked off with the Dhol & Tasha drums and the synchronized Lezim dance by the ISW Symphony group, captivating the audience. The group's performance filled the air with festive energy, encouraging the crowd to clap, dance, and join in the celebration with colors. "We matched the energy level of a performance in India. It’s wonderful to see the next generation now interested and invested in this tradition," said Akshay Rajhans, a member of the ISW Symphony.

In addition, the dazzling dance routines from various community groups further elevated the celebration. These performances, representing different regions of India, showcased the nation's cultural diversity and kept the audience engaged throughout the event.

"The Holi event was an absolute hit! The energy was incredible, and the performances had everyone completely captivated," said Prasanna Pawar, another participant in the event. Sonia Gera, an enthusiastic member of the ISW Symphony, added, "Such a fun-filled Holi celebration. Blessed to be part of this team!" Meanwhile, Yogini Lathkar expressed her appreciation for the event's spirit, saying, "So much energy and enthusiasm! Kudos to the organizers and all the hard work behind the scenes."

Performers:

Dhol: Aishwarya Mungarwadi, Akshay Rajhans, Arya Mulay, Madhu Thube, Meenakshi Vaze, Prasanna Pawar, Raghavendra Cowlagi, Rajesh Khare, Ranjit Mulay, Sakshi Gurao, Sarita Deshpande, Sonia Gera, Yogini Lathkar

Tasha: Arvind Kinhikar, Ayaan Sahasrabuddhe, Jayant Thube, Kaustubh Sahasrabuddhe, Mangesh Shinde, Parag Kunte, Sanket Gurao

Tol: Shirish Joshi

Jhanz: Ahan Rajhans, Ashok Kale, Manoj Gera, Vaijayanti Joshi

Lezim: Anjali Kinhikar, Anuradha Bhogle, Arjun Sahasrabuddhe, Arti Khare, Ashwini Sabnis Kulkarni, Maurya, Pallavi, Samyukta Warty, Saanvi Khare, Sharanya, Shatatara Lathkar, Shilpa Kulkarni, Shriya Joag, Shweta Sahasrabuddhe, Urudini, Vishakha Khamankar, Vivaan

Ghoshna: Maurya Pawar

Shiv-Parvati Mahakal Dance: Arjun Sahasrabuddhe, Ayaan Sahasrabuddhe and Uruvi Jagan

Shankh: Arjun Sahasrabuddhe

Tutari: Arvind Kinhikar, Jayant Thube

Dance Performers:

Aaradhya Mohapatra, Amrita Banerjee, Anaya Wasekar, Anita Mohapatra, Anjali Singh, Arjun Sahasrabudhe, Ayaan Sahasrabudhe, Basva Rohan Raja, Eshwar Reddy Palvai, Laxmi Niveditha Gandham, Manviya Bhaduriya, Mayra Bhaduriya, Minasri Borah, Monali Wasekar, Monalisha Kalita, Nija Shingh, Pranita Deshmukh, Reema Raghavendra, Sai Askhitha Reddy Kota, Sai Sriram Kasuba, Saoni Mukherjee, Saanvi Khare, Satya Gutala, Shatatara Lathkar, Smita Manjrekar, Snehal Kadam, Sri Shivani Mandati, Suchismita Hazarika, Suchitra Shinde, Sumalini Reddy Palvai, Tanvi Kunte, Tulika Gogoi, Vaishnavi Barot, Yojneesh Shakya

Photography: Arjun Thube, Mukesh Tanwanis, Pranita Deshmukh

The ISW Symphony Dhol Tasha Lezim group expressed their gratitude to the audience for their participation and to the event organizers for making the celebration possible.

Reflecting on the event, Arvind Kinhikar shared, "Right from the beginning, we knew we were going to rock! The energy was infectious, even inspiring a toddler to dance. It was a heartfelt celebration that truly brought Boston together."

The success of the event was made possible through the dedication of ISW volunteers, community partners, and sponsors. ISW extends its sincere appreciation to Nina Pellegrini of Faneuil Hall Marketplace management for her invaluable support.

ISW Harvest Festival 2025 – A Grand Celebration of Culture & Talent!

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 04:29:21 GMT

The ISW Harvest Festival on February 8th, the first cultural event of the year, was a spectacular showcase of talent, dedication, and community spirit. Meticulously planned and executed, the event saw an incredible turnout despite the oncoming snowstorm, proving the unwavering enthusiasm of our community.

This year, we were thrilled to introduce a pilot singing competition, providing aspiring vocalists with a platform to shine. The enthusiasm and energy surrounding this segment ensure it will become a staple in future events! The cultural performances made an amazing impact on the audience, leaving everyone mesmerized by the energy and creativity displayed on stage.

A special thank you to our esteemed judges—Mansi Patki, Shailesh Salgar, Neha Singh, and Shrinivass AB for their expertise and insights, making the competition even more meaningful.

Congratulations to Our Winners!

Dance Competition Winners:

Age 8-12: Arya’s Little Masters – Shubham Mishra
Radha Krishna Dance – Jasmine Shah
Funky Fusion – Sheetal Kochavara

Age 13-17: Arya’s Groove Express – Shubham Mishra
Kharvo Khalasi Fisher Men – Jasmine Shah
Sleeping Beauty: A Bollywood Musical – Ekta Jain

Age 18+: Devotion Meets Tradition – Ekta Jain
Harvest Hues – Harika Samudrala
Naari Shakti – Padmini Dey

Singing Competition Winners:

Sachin and Suhana Shah
Kiran Mahi and Rashmi
Anju Shukla and Shipra Gupta

A heartfelt thank you to all participants—your passion and hard work were evident in every performance. And, of course, a huge shoutout to our dedicated ISW volunteers—your commitment makes events like this possible! For more information about ISW’s initiatives, upcoming events, and membership, please visit https://iswonline.org/

- Smita Manjrekar

ISW Humrahee and ISWU Can you do CANVA?

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 04:27:17 GMT

A heartfelt thank you to our computer experts, Ayan and Adi, for their engaging and insightful presentation on Digital Literacy Part 2. This session took an exciting turn as we explored Canva, learning to create our own flyers and posters with different templates and design elements. The enthusiasm was palpable as everyone unleashed their creativity!

A special shoutout to Dhiren Bhai, who came to our rescue with the much-awaited chai and samosas—a gesture that truly embodies generosity and warmth.

Manoranjan – A Nostalgic Musical Journey

The entertainment segment was a delightful trip down memory lane:
Adhikari ji captivated us with the classic "Jayo Kahan Bata Ye Dil".
Rajay ji and Renuka ji enchanted us with "Bade Achhe Lagte Hain".
Ashok ji delivered a heartfelt solo, while Veena ji and Sushil ji performed a beautiful duet.
Narayan ji brought us back to the golden era of Dilip Kumar, evoking cherished memories of listening to Binaca Geet Mala on the radio.

Music has a way of uplifting the soul, transporting us to a place of peace and joy.

A big thank you to all our volunteers, especially Rajay ji and Dhiren ji, for making this session so special. And, of course, gratitude to everyone who attended—your presence is what makes Humrahi truly special! ❤️

- Sharat Amin

ISW PEN event - Chat with Tax Guru - Dr. Satya Mitra

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 03:30:37 GMT

The ISW's Professionals and Entrepreneurs Network (PEN) hosted an insightful Tax Planning Seminar today at the India Center. Dr. Mitra shared expert strategies on deductions, credits, and tax-efficient investment options to help attendees maximize their savings.

The session was highly informative, providing practical takeaways for both individuals and business owners. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with Dr. Mitra, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of effective tax planning.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Mitra and all participants for making this seminar a success!

- By Ragoo Raghunathan

India Society of Worcester (ISW) announces new Executive Board and Governance Committee following Annual General Body Meeting

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:03:23 GMT

Shrewsbury, MA – January 26, 2025

The India Society of Worcester (ISW) successfully held its Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) on January 26, 2025, where members gathered to reflect on the organization's accomplishments over the past year and to elect the new Executive Board and Governance Committee for the upcoming term. The AGM served as an opportunity for ISW members to review key initiatives and programs, discuss future plans, and recognize the contributions of outgoing board members.

Newly Elected ISW Committee on Governance (2025-2026)

1. Chair of Governance Committee: Rajiv Dayal

2. Governance Committee Member: Ashish Cowlagi

3. Governance Committee Member: Puneet Kohli

Newly Elected ISW Executive Board (2025-2026)

1. President: Prof. Jagan Srinivasan

2. Vice President: Balki Chandrakasan

3. Secretary: Kamlesh Khilnani

4. Assistant Secretary: Mukul Agrawal

5. Treasurer: Asish Bhattacharya

6. Assistant Treasurer: Muthu Rajshekharan

7. Cultural Chair: Smita Manjrekar

8. Religious Chair: Geetanjali Virmani

9. School Chair: Ruchi Chauhan (approved for a third term)

10. India Center Chair: Chella Palaniappan

11. Members at Large: Anand Jain, Rajesh Khare, Anjali Paranjpe, Dhiren Savla, Suchitra Shinde

ISW extends its heartfelt gratitude to all outgoing board members for their dedicated service to organization and welcomes the new board. With a renewed leadership team in place, ISW is excited to advance its vision and continue to strengthen community engagement in Massachusetts.

For more information about ISW’s initiatives, upcoming events, and membership, please visit https://iswonline.org/

WEW - Enhance your Inner Confidence

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 02:21:17 GMT

"The power of presentation: enhancing your inner beauty through your flawless appearance."

This phrase highlights the importance of self-presentation and how it can boost one's confidence and showcase their inner beauty. It emphasizes that:

1. Inner beauty shines brighter when paired with a polished appearance.

2. Confidence and self-assurance are key to making a great impression.

3. Taking care of one's appearance can enhance their overall well-being.

A holistic approach to beauty, where inner radiance and outer presentation come together in harmony.

Thank you Foram Bajaria for your precious time for your live demonstration, insights and patience answering so many questions

ISW Humrahee Hungama Phir Se

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:16:37 GMT

The Humrahi Gala was truly a musical journey down Bollywood's memory lane! Our talented singers took us from the timeless melodies of the Dev Anand era, through the vibrant tunes of Govinda, all the way to the iconic tracks of King Khan. A special shout-out to Manisha Parmar, Kaizad Patel, Ashutosh Patel, and Reshma Nair, who captivated us with one beautiful, heartfelt song after another. Their mesmerizing performances left us spellbound and filled our senses with joy!

The evening's ambiance was nothing short of magical, with guests elegantly dressed in red and green, embracing the spirit of the season. Our talented Gautam Jain captured the festive moments with his professional Christmas portraits, making the night even more memorable.

Our Humrahi singers Narayan ji, Rajay ji, and Trupti ji were outstanding on stage, delighting the audience with their melodious voices. We were also pleasantly surprised by our guest Raj Sinichar from Florida, whose soulful performance touched everyone deeply.

The dance performances by Kirti Nagpal, Smita Manjrekar, and Hema Phatnani were truly appreciated, adding a lively touch to the evening. Couples swirled onto the dance floor, enjoying the soft Bollywood melodies and indulging in a little ballroom magic.

The venue was beautifully decorated with Christmas lights, a stunning tree, and festive touches that perfectly captured the holiday spirit. The entire atmosphere was filled with warmth, cheer, and holiday joy.

One of the night's most exciting moments came with the arrival of our Humrahi committed chair Sharat Amin dressed as Santa Claus—a true showstopper! Santa made a grand entrance, bringing a sense of wonder and delight to the event. He added an extra touch of excitement by presenting prizes in several fun categories, such as Best Dressed Couple, Best Dressed Female, Best Dressed male and more . Congrats to all the winners.

Guests enjoyed a delectable gourmet dinner, featuring rich dishes like Paneer Butter Masala, Navratan Korma, Tadka Dal, and freshly baked, crispy Naan—a true feast for the senses.

The evening was filled with laughter, music, and a palpable sense of happiness and cheer. A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, making this event a grand success and creating a memorable experience for all our Humrahi members.

- Dr. Kirti Nagpal

ISW Symphony Dhol Tasha Lezim Team Performs at Boston Celtics Pregame Show

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:36:36 GMT

Contributed by: Sarita Deshpande

On Thursday, December 12, 2024, the ISW Symphony Dhol Tasha Lezim team took center stage at TD Garden in Boston during the pregame show of the Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons game. This energetic group of ISW volunteers, who have been working together for several years, regularly practices and performs at various ISW and local community events. The team plays traditional Indian folk drums known as 'Dhol,' snare drums called 'Tasha,' and large and small cymbals referred to as 'Zanj' and 'Taal.'

This performance was part of ISW’s longstanding collaboration with the Boston Celtics, which began in 2010. Over the years, ISW members have participated in various pregame activities, including singing the National Anthem, interacting with players, and showcasing traditional Indian music and dance. Ragini Seth, a pioneering ISW volunteer who helped initiate this collaboration, reflected on the tradition: “It all started with a group dancing to ‘Jai Ho’ on the parquet floor. Since then, ISW has brought Indian culture to Celtics fans in many ways. Seeing the Dhol Tasha team perform this year continues that legacy.”

"Stepping onto the Celtics court, where basketball legends have played, was an incredible feeling. It was a proud moment to see our Indian cultural rhythms capture the attention of thousands of spectators in the arena," said Sarita Deshpande, Chair of the ISW Symphony initiative.

Aishwarya Mungarwadi, one of the Dhol players and a recent addition to the team, shared her excitement: “I never dreamt of performing Dhol for the Celtics. Being a new performer, this was a big achievement for me. I was on cloud nine after the performance. The vibrant and lively atmosphere felt amazing.”

Another Dhol player, Akshay Rajhans, captures the essence of the performance using AI: “Let us applaud, this cultural blend, where dance and music, forever transcend. The ISW Symphony, a name we'll recall, for the vibrant performance, a sight for all.”

Rajesh Khare, an ISW volunteer and one of the organizers of the group, added, "It was an incredible experience to showcase the rich tradition of Dhol Tasha Lezim to a wider audience. The energy in the arena was amazing."

Big Thanks to All Our Volunteer Performers

· Flag Bearer: Ashok Kale

· Dhol Players: Aditya Ambade, Atharv Deshpande, Akshay Rajhans, Shirish Joshi, Rajesh Khare, Adi Kinhikar, Aishwarya Mungarwadi, Prasanna Pawar, Meenakshi Vaze, Durgesh Warty

· Tasha Players: Sanket Gurao, Arvind Kinhikar, Parag Kunte, Mangesh Shinde, Kaustubh Sahasrabuddhe, Vinay Vyas

· Zanj Players: Vaijayanti Joshi, Priya Vaidya

· Taal Players: Ahaan Rajhans, Ayaan Sahasrabuddhe

· Lezim Players: Avnee Ambade, Anuradha Bhogle, Pranita Deshmukh, Sarita Deshpande, Shriya Jog, Lavanya Kartik, Saanvi Khare, Anjali Kinhikar, Shilpa Kulkarni, Tanvi Kunte, Arjun Sahasrabuddhe, Samyukta Warty

· Logistics and Planning Help: Abhijeet Kaulgud

The ISW Symphony Dhol Tasha Lezim team regularly performs at ISW events and other local programs, promoting Indian culture through rhythm and dance. For more information, visit website.

20th Annual ISW Christmas Celebration

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:26:12 GMT

The 20th Annual ISW Christmas Celebration was held at the Shrewsbury Congregational Church venue . Families representing various Indian states and languages came together, dressed in vibrant Christmas colors and traditional Indian attire. Women in colorful saris, men in suits and cultural attire, and children in festive outfits helped kick off the Christmas season in a unique and joyous way.

The celebration began with the sounds of Christmas carols sung in multiple Indian languages, filling the hall with the spirit of the season. Ms. Amitha Rao served as the program moderator, while Dr. Allwyn Rapose shared a heartfelt account of his journey from growing up in Mumbai to becoming a doctor & moving to United States. Dr. Rapose reflected on the challenges he faced, including moments during the COVID-19 pandemic when, as a chief of infectious diseases, he struggled to save many patients. He shared how he opened his heart to God and allowed God’s story for his life to unfold. Drawing a parallel to Christmas, he reminded that Jesus Christ, was born as a baby in the whole wide world , where there was no room and was laid in a manger & his story to save mankind from sins to eternal life.

Mr. Puneet Kohli, President of ISW, and his wife, Mrs. Priyanka Kohli, carried on ISW’s cherished tradition by cutting the Christmas cake and greeting the community. Dr. Jagan Srinivasan, ISW Vice President, highlighted the significant accomplishments of ISW in 2024 and encouraged attendees to get involved and make a difference in the community.

Mr. Rajoo Ananth, Chair of the ISW Crisis Committee, shared touching stories of compassion and care extended by the ISW community to fellow Indians in need, right in our own neighborhoods.

The ISW Voice Ensemble delivered a lively English and Hindi medley that was met with great enthusiasm and joy by the audience. The arrival of Santa Claus delighted the children, who received gifts and posed for family pictures with him.

Home made homemade Christmas dinner, lovingly prepared by volunteers was served to couple hundred families with children spreading the joy and love of the season.

ISW Christmas 2024 Pictures with Santa

link to Santa’s photos for parents to download their family pictures:

ISW Harvest Festival is back with exciting new segments

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 17:36:34 GMT

--Submitted by ISW Cultural Team

As part of our upcoming Annual ISW Harvest Festival, we are excited to celebrate with vibrant cultural performances, and your talent and creativity would be a perfect addition to this special event. We are reaching out to invite you to take part in this event. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your artistic skills, bring your vision to life, and contribute to a memorable celebration of the season.

Event Details:

Date: Sat, Feb 8, 2025 @2:00 pm
Venue: St John's High School, 378 Main St, Shrewsbury, MA
Registration Form: https://iswonline.org/event-5978777

Facebook

There are 3 segments this year :

Non-Compete Cultural Program:

Art Form - Dance, Live Music, Group Vocals, Act, Other
Minimum number of participants in a group must be 5
Performance duration must not exceed 4.5 minutes

Group Dance Competition

8 years and older can participate in the Dance Competition
Minimum number of participants in a group must be 5
Performance duration must not exceed 4.5 minutes
The judges' decision will be final and binding.

*****ISW Cultural Committee can decide to combine contest categories if we receive less than 3 registrations in one category****

Adult Singing Competition - This segment is exclusively for aspiring singers who wish to showcase their talent and to take your passion to the next level.

Adults (18 years and older) can participate in the Singing Competition
Minimum number of participants in a group must be 2
Performance duration must not exceed 2.5 minutes
Non-Classical Hindi Songs ONLY
The judges' decision will be final and binding.
We will be accepting 10 entries this year - first 10 to register and pay the registration fee

IMPORTANT DATES
Registration deadline: Saturday Feb 1st, 2025 11:00 pm
Music submission deadline: Saturday Feb 5th, 2025 11:00 pm (Reminder will be sent closer to the date)

Please let us know if you're available to participate, and feel free to share any requirements you may have.

We request that you avoid dropping out at the last minute.

Our entire team is looking forward to hearing from you and seeing the magic you’ll create on stage!

Thank you,

ISW Cultural Team

iswonline.org

Workshop for Seniors by Digital Literacy Project

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 22:50:45 GMT

submitted by By Ayan Mishra

On November 23rd, the Digital Literacy Project (DLP), a student-led organization from Saint John's High School, hosted its inaugural workshop for ISW Humrahee. It was attendend by over 70 seniors participating in an engaging and interactive session aimed at enhancing their digital skills and become more comfortable with technology, an increasingly essential part of everyday life. Participants were guided through practical tips and tools to improve their digital literacy, from basic device usage to online safety and communication skills.

One of the highlights of the workshop was its highly interactive format. The session featured quizzes and live Q&A segments, which kept the seniors engaged and actively involved throughout. The quizzes were designed to test their understanding of the concepts presented and provide instant feedback, while the Q&A allowed attendees to ask specific questions about their personal experiences with technology. This format encouraged a two-way dialogue, making the event not only informative but also enjoyable for all participants.

Many seniors had specific concerns or queries about their devices, whether it was how to use certain apps, troubleshoot common issues, storage concerns or stay safe online. They appreciated the practical knowledge they gained, particularly about how technology can help them stay connected with loved ones, access essential services, and pursue new hobbies. Several attendees mentioned how the session demystified aspects of technology they had previously found intimidating.

The Digital Literacy Project is led by passionate students from Saint John's High School, with Ayan Mishra serving as CEO, Aadi Jaganathan as COO, and David Wang as President of Event Coordination. For more information on upcoming workshops , contact humrahee@online.org

Humrahee session: Digital Literacy and Thanksgiving get together

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 20:57:00 GMT

---submitted by Dr Kirti Nagpal

We started our program on 11/23/2024 with an informative session on Digital literacy.

Digital literacy refers to the ability to effectively and critically navigate, evaluate, and create information using a range of digital technologies. In today’s world, digital literacy is not just about knowing how to use devices like smartphones or computers; it's about understanding and applying technology in an informed and ethical manner .

First session of this 2 part series addressed basics like

1.How to stay Connected and Safe Online
2.Cybersecurity
3.How to avoid misinformation and fake news

It was an incredible presentation by the young tech Savvy freshman students of St John’s school - Aadi , Ayan and David .

We all were truly impressed by there confidence and expertise on the subject .

All the topics were relevant to the needs and concerns of our audience .

After the session we had our potluck to celebrate upcoming Thanksgiving day . We had a huge spread of delectable foods both sweet and savory !! There was handvo, Dahi Bada , samosas, Lauki Halwa and gulab Jamun to name just a few of the dishes !

We all had a great time connecting with each other and enjoying the delicious food and masala Chai .

We then dived into our next session of “Kuch Dil Ne Kaha”

It was a great mix of songs and Bhajans and shayari . Our active and passionate humrahi members participated in it with full enthusiasm and vigor.

Another engaging and successful Humrahi get together .

We sang ,we connected,we enjoyed and had some bread together- what else could be a better way of celebrating Thanksgiving !!

ISW Diwali Cultural at Assabet Vocational Tech was a tremendous success

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 00:30:39 GMT

We are delighted to share that the ISW Diwali Cultural Event was a tremendous success! The event started and finished on time, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. With over 40 items featured, there was truly something for everyone to enjoy. Vendors offered a diverse range of products and services, including clothing, jewelry, religious books, tutoring services, and a health booth dedicated to educating the South Asian community on heart health issues. The food was another major highlight of the event, receiving rave reviews and selling out completely. DJ Ashok kept the energy alive, ensuring the music ran smoothly throughout the event.
Most importantly, both guests and participants expressed their happiness with how well the event was organized and appreciated its timely conclusion. A special shout-out to the Cultural Committee—this event wouldn’t have been possible without their tireless efforts and invaluable contributions. Thank you for making this event such a memorable success!

No Free Health Stop sessions on 11-27, 12-25 and 1-1-25

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:07:20 GMT

No Free Health Stop sessions on 11-27, 12-25 and 1-1-25 in celebration of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

Magical ISW Diwali Lights at NEBG Towerhill 2024

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:06:42 GMT

It was indeed a magical night at Diwali Lights at NEBG at Tower Hill, Boylston, MA on November 23, 2024, when they kicked off its season of Night Lights with Diwali Lights.

This is the third year in 2024 that the New England Botanic Garden (NEBG) and the India Society of Worcester (ISW) have partnered to hold a Diwali celebration at the garden. “This year, because it was part of the Night Lights, our Indian Culture reached such a wider audience. I’m so happy about that,” said Shiamin Melville, Event Chair for Diwali Lights at NEBG. It leads to such perfect synergy — celebrating their iconic annual Night Lights with Diwali which is also a festival of lights.

NEBG's Night Lights is a six-week program, where the breathtaking winter light display of a quarter million lights is unmatched in the region. Visitors were amazed as they journeyed through a mesmerizing array of radiant, glowing lights in every imaginable color. Besides s’mores, seasonal drinks, and a model train, a Glice artificial ice-skating rink was also installed for the first time for Night Lights.

Attendees to Diwali Lights this year were welcomed with traditional flowers Rangoli, by Priya Vaidya. The event featured Indian food, in partnership with Gourmet India; shopping with vendors selling Indian jewelry, clothes, neem candles, turmeric soap and ethnic water bottles; henna with Megna; and a scavenger hunt to find South Asian plants in the Orangery. Carolyn and Sahdev Passey added to the festivities with their beautiful ethnic touches in the cafe and event spaces, and their Indian Culture table proved to be big draw. Additionally, we had chess enthusiasts enjoying sessions, surrounded by myriads of lights. This year’s dancers were from Natyamani School of Drama, AmudhaSri Dance School Dance School, BollyBeatz, Garishma, and Mona's Dance Academy. The musical program included young flute and tabla performers Sachika and Adithya, Sak, and Carnatic vocals by Gaanavaariddhi School of Music. To end it all, more than 20 of ISW’s own Symphony Dhol Tasha Lezim team braved the cold and performed in the garden surrounded by rainbow LED lights. With the help of more than 20 ISW Volunteers and our Indian Youth Group, this event helped create magical memories.

“I just love seeing the families enjoy the garden,” said Grace Elton, CEO as they connected with nature. “Some fan favorites are returning this year, including the rainbow tunnel located in the vegetable garden.” Staff and volunteers work each year to create a theme for the event and this year the theme’s focus is rainbows. The Garden of Inspiration, now ADA accessible, focuses on how rainbows occur, and visitors saw waterfalls and ice with pops of rainbow shining through.

NEBG first connected with ISW in 2019 when it was working on its strategic plan. CEO Grace Elton said the garden was reaching out to as many community members as possible to get information on what the garden should be doing in the future. The then-President of ISW, Ashish Cowlagi, participated in a focus group, and, as a result, we continue to hold a seat on the garden’s Community Advisory Committee. Besides that, ISW members Priya Vaidya and Shiamin Melville have joined NEBG committees and the Board of Trustees. We look forward to 2025 Diwali Lights next year.

DTL_Video

Photos by Mala Lam from Event

Musical FB Live Performances

Walkthrough FB Live

ISW Volunteers 2024 Hours Tracking

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 05:15:19 GMT

We hope to track the hours to recognize the amazing volunteers who contribute to India Society of Worcester

Please note no adults over 25 will be considered for 2024 awards as per change, only youth hours are considered.

2024 volunteer hours should be submitted by January 31, 2025. Please complete form here

We will need written certification/verification of hours for non ISW Hours
All applicants should be current ISW members or be part of family that has a membership, and be registered with IYG
Try and fill it at the end of each quarter in 2024
Additionally, if you want, you can allow ISW to share your info to be considered for the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). The PVSA recognizes incredible individuals who are committed to a high level of volunteer and service with a PVSA medal and a letter from the White House. More info at:
https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/eligibility#volunteers

South Asians at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:34:56 GMT

by Arushi Bhatnagar

Arushi is a Clinical Research Coordinator with Massachusetts General Hospital, and she is focused on better understanding why South Asians have elevated risk of heart disease. Look for an opportunity to meet her team and learn more at many of our programs coming up.

Did you know that South Asians are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease ?

South Asians are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (2-4x more compared to the general population), but research to explain this disparity is limited in size and diversity. Much of the research that exists attributes the increased risk to lifestyle and diet. However, healthy, younger South Asians are being diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension at much earlier ages – this gives us reason to suspect that there is a genetic basis to the problem.

The OurHealth study is led by cardiologists and genetic researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Stanford, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Yale who are dedicated to discovering the underlying lifestyle and genetic factors for cardiovascular disease risk in South Asian populations.

Participation in the study involves completion of a few online surveys that detail your personal health history, family health history, and lifestyle. Upon completion of these surveys, you’ll be asked to submit a saliva sample for genetic sequencing. Your data will always be protected and secure in accordance with Institutional Review Board-approved guidelines.

To learn more about the study or become a participant, please visit www.ourhealthstudy.org. If you have any questions, please feel free to email ourhealthstudy@mgb.org or call 617-724-1240.

OurHealth will be at upcoming ISW Programs - including the DIwali Cultural program.

ISW Symphony's All-Women Dhol Tasha Group Makes History at Worcester Art Museum

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:19:46 GMT

- By Rajesh Khare

Worcester, MA - On November 3, 2024, history was made at the Diwali celebration co-organized by the Worcester Art Museum and the India Society of Worcester (ISW). For the first time in the United States, an all-women Dhol Tasha group from the ISW Symphony performed, adding a powerful new dimension to the traditional art form. Known for its high-energy beats and colorful displays, the performance captivated an enthusiastic audience, and many attendees joined in to dance.

The ISW Symphony team, dedicated to preserving and promoting the folk music of India, took its commitment to a new level by forming an all-women Dhol Tasha team. For many, it was a statement of unity and empowerment.

“For the past two years, we’ve dreamed of forming an all-women Dhol Tasha team, believing deeply in women’s power to make this vision a reality,” said Sarita Deshpande, chair of the ISW Symphony initiative. “With an incredible mix of little girls, young women, and mothers, the performance truly celebrated strength and unity. I proudly say, ‘Her Rhythm, Her Voice! Jai Ho!’”

Anjali Kinhikar, who had previously performed with Lezim but took on the Dhol for the first time, was thrilled by the experience. “Teamwork makes the dream work!” she said, highlighting the dedication and collaboration that made the performance possible.

Sonia Gera, a performer skilled in both Dhol and Tasha, captured the group’s spirit with her words: “एकच नशा, ढोल ताशा!” ("Only one passion, Dhol Tasha!") - reflecting the excitement and pride felt by the team.

Prasanna Pawar, one of the Dhol leads, expressed about her connection to the tradition: “Dhol Tasha Lezim is a cherished tradition from Maharashtra, and playing the Dhol has long been on my personal bucket list. I finally had the chance to pursue this passion here in the United States, and it has since become a part of my identity. After each performance, it feels phenomenal. This was our first performance as an all-women’s Dhol Tasha team - a truly unforgettable experience.”

The Worcester Art Museum’s Diwali event, co-hosted with ISW, offered the perfect setting for this historic debut, drawing about 1400 of attendees eager to experience Indian art, dance, and culture. The success of the all-women Dhol Tasha group underscored ISW’s contributions to the cultural landscape of New England.

Rajesh Khare, one of the organizers of the ISW Symphony Dhol Tasha Lezim, emphasized the group’s inclusive approach. “Our Dhol Tasha Lezim group welcomes everyone - men, women, all ages, and people from diverse backgrounds,” he shared. “We believe in building a community where all are welcome to join in celebrating and preserving this rich cultural tradition.”

This pioneering all-women performance will likely inspire similar groups across the nation, offering a new chapter in the legacy of Dhol Tasha.

Tasha: Sarita Deshpande, Sonia Gera, Veena Dindore

Dhol: Aishwarya Mungarwadi, Anjali Kinhikar, Arya Mulay, Manjiri Patil, Meenakshi Vaze, Prasanna Pawar, Shatatara Lathkar, Yogini Lathkar

Zhanj: Priya Vaidya, Vishakha Khamankar

Tol: Sakshi Gurao

Backstage Support: Abhijit Kaulgud, Ashok Kale, Rajesh Khare, Ranjit Mulay, Sanket Gurao

ISW Free Health Stop Closed for thanksgiving

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:43:56 GMT

ISW's Free Health Stop will be closed on Wednesday 11/27 in observance of thanksgiving.

We wish all our volunteer clinicians a relaxing holiday with their families.

ISWU Heartfulness Meditation Workshop / Fun get together

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 18:12:36 GMT

--Submitted by Pooja Srivastav

We are thrilled to share that our recent ISWU Heartfulness meditation workshop was a wonderful success, filled with warmth, connection, and the spirit of the seasons. Around 80 participants joined in, dressed in beautiful traditional attire, bringing vibrant energy and joy to the celebration.

Our community gathered from various states, including Nashua, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, Massachusetts creating a rich tapestry of cultures and traditions.

Throughout the day, we engaged in meaningful activities that fostered both spiritual growth and light-hearted fun. We began with a peaceful group meditation session, allowing everyone to center and reconnect. Youngsters brought an infectious energy, fully participating and adding a joyful spark to the gathering.

The event was also a fantastic opportunity to bond through games. Inspiring readings and videos from Master deepened our connection to Heartfulness, and many participants were able to receive personal 1-1 sittings with a trainer.

We closed the event on a serene note with a peaceful group meditation, leaving everyone feeling calm, rejuvenated, and connected.

We’re grateful for everyone’s enthusiastic participation and for the host’s generous hospitality. This gathering truly captured the spirit of Heartfulness, reminding us of the power of community and shared purpose. We look forward to more such gatherings, strengthening our bonds and creating lasting memories.

Thank you to all who made this event so memorable!

Humrahee Mantras in life - Get up, Dress up and Show up .

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 20:09:20 GMT

Synopsis Humrahi 10/26/24

----submitted by Kirti Nagpal

We had a very informative session on Oct 26th, 2024. We were very fortunate to have Ms Daxa Patel the CEO of American Health care AFC and Ms Chakshu Sethi come to India center. They gave us all an insight in all the services that are available under the Adult foster care Initiative in State of Massachusetts.

It was a very productive session especially for the seniors and their caregivers in the community. Under this program the seniors are eligible to have an assigned registered nurse and a social worker to help with their specific needs. The caregivers would also be eligible for financial remuneration to help the seniors with their personal care, transportation and companionship.

If anyone is interested in reaching out to them, their tell number is 888 686 9010.

After this we have dived into getting answers for one of the Eternal questions ever - How to decide the Medicare Advantage plan and what are the alphabets A, B, C and D when it comes to Medicare.

Mr. Narayan Sharma from Eternal Health came to our rescue with a very elaborate and easy to understand session about Medicare Advantage Plans. We were able to get a lot of valuable information as to what details and criterion to look into before deciding and signing up for Medicare B and C.

Mr. Sharma was very kind and patient and answered all the relevant questions from the audience. We feel a little comfortable about navigating through this alphabetic maze when it comes to health insurance.

This session was followed by a networking and socializing session over Masala chai and delicious crispy samosas.

Our final session of the Humrahi program was our fancy-dress competition celebrating Halloween. We had Manisha Kamerkar dressed in a cute cat outfit, Sandhya ji was our powerful and dynamic Indira Gandhi, Mohan and Raj Nagpal tried to capture the essence of romantic onscreen couple Raj Kapoor and Nargis and Kirti was dressed in Japanese outfit. We had Jashu ji in a kimono and Pravin Bhai in a Thawb. It was very heartwarming when Pravin ji came to the stage and spoke about his past experience in Middle east. Mala Sharma was our beautiful bubbly butterfly. Hasumati ji was in a cowboy outfit. The grand Finale was our talented Sharat Bhai dressed up as the dashing Khalnayak.

The Audience thoroughly enjoyed the whole program which was a great mix of learning information and fun.

Would like to thank all the humrahians who attended . With this session of Humrahi we were able to follow one of the popular Mantras in life - Get up, dress up and Show up

Story of my first custom tailored Suit

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 23:59:07 GMT

----Submitted by Dilip Bhavsar

Mr. Dilip Bhavsar is a long-time volunteer for ISW. Among his many contributions, he was the first webmaster for ISW's original website. In this entertaining piece - he writes a story that many of us can relate to - the tailoring of his first suit.

Year was 1975. It was little over one year since graduating from Kharagpur and beginning work at Larsen and Toubro. Plans for the most significant event of my life were already in motion. Wedding date was settled, Wedding Hall was booked. Reverend Priest already appointed and committed. Parents, immediate uncles and aunts on both bride and groom sides had their hands full with myriads of pre-wedding activities. They all were having time of their life. Afterall it was the wedding of first new generation kids on both sides.

Unlike weddings of today where bride and groom play active role in planning and orchestrating own wedding event, both of us were largely uninvolved and life was good. Then one fine day I was told that my wedding suit will be coming from my in-laws, and it will be the choice of my would-be better half. And we must hurry. Wedding date in December was hardly a month away. Thus began the project “Dilip’s Wedding Suit” on priority.

Project was kicked off with the quest for suitable fabric for suit. The thought of ready-made suit did not even cross our minds. All my trousers and shirts to-date were custom-tailored. The ready-made garment industry was non-existent or in infancy. Raymonds ready-made dress pants perhaps may have just surfaced. However, ready-made suits were not heard of.

Crawford market was recommended for fabric shopping. We were not disappointed. We found a whole street full of shops selling fabric for suiting. All shops were popular as they were all bursting and overflowing with crowds of shoppers. It certainly confirmed that we were amid the high wedding-season.

We pushed our way into one of the shops. It was just a tad easier than pushing us on board the local train at Bandra station earlier on the way to shopping. Subtracting out the crowd, we could feel that we were surrounded by walls of nicely stacked bolts of suiting material. These so-called bolts are funny. They are neither round nor threaded. They are square frames around which fabric yarn is rolled for storage , transportation, and display before retail sale.

There were wools, terylenes, silks, cottons, their blends, and cross-blends, all in hundreds of colors, shades patterns and textures. We felt good that we may not have to go anywhere else.

Inching forward through layers of shoppers we eventually managed to wedge ourselves in front of the sales-display counter. At the counter we were greeted by a cheerful vista of fabric peeking from their overlapping partially opened bolts. All very inviting. All free to caress to heart’s content. All beautiful and desired. “But I can have only one! “

A familiar shiver pass through me. Have I not been in this situation before? Saint Shammi Kapur’s lines “Jawaniya Ye Must Must Bin Piye . . . Na Janu Inme Kiske Vaste Hu Mein Na Jaane Inme Haun Hai Mere Liye” sang in my ears again.

We were waiting for attention. There were many salespeople serving several customers simultaneously. Just then the magic happened. My would-be better half had eye contact with one of them. Magic of her eyes it was. He at once got drawn to us. He looked at us and seemed to calculate something in his mind. He reached out to the wall and pulled out the first bolt of fabric and spread it open for us. Then the second and then the third. Just as he pulled the fourth one and as the bolt made its flight to the counter our eyes glittered. It was “love at first sight.” Love turned into commitment as soon as we had a closer look at the fabric’s intricate pattern, and we felt the fabric. A greater excitement awaited us as Ranjana turned fabric inside out. She saw an exquisite display of deep brown, dark green and dull yellow colors in diffused clouds of patterns that appeared as if dancing in harmony in subdued store light.

“Dilip, you must use this side.”

Salesman estimated required material for 3-piece suit together with usual allowance for tailor’s comfort. . Then came the ultimate performance in fabric buying experience. Flap…flap...flap. He pulled the required length of fabric from the bolt. He placed scissors in big open “V” configuration at one end of the bolt. Within blink of an eye, Zzzzzz …he sailed scissors across the bolt. A perfect cut, without ruler, without T-square!

With fabric in hand, Phase two of “Wedding Suit” project began with search for a reputed tailor. My old tailor “Shasco” in Andheri Shopping Center had done my shirts and pants for many years. But he was disqualified unjustly as tailor for my wedding suit must be from “high fashion area.” Lord’s Tailor on SV Road in Santa Cruz was selected. It beats me today what made Santa Cruz more fashionable than Andheri.

A visit was paid to Lord’s. Mr. Lord, I no longer recall his real name, but his entire image is in my eyes. Rectangular face, short hair, dark brown frame eyeglasses, off white bush-shirt, an unfolded tailor’s measuring tape hanging almost symmetrically from around neck.

He measured me up variously. He measured me around my neck and shoulder, around chest, around waist, and around my butt too. He also measured me several places north to south. Then he asked ,

“Bottom ?”

This question may intrigue many today, including our children, and grandchildren. Bell Bottom pants were in fashion. I do not recall who set the trend and whether it was just Mumbai, just India or all over the world. If your pant did not have sharply creased enormous bottom, you felt old and out of place.

“32 inch.” My would be had already responded on my behalf.

With my vitals recorded and bottom specified, Mr. Lord turned to the fabric and measured it long and wide and remarked,

“Chalega.”

The word brought sigh of relief. It confirmed that Dilip would fit in the fabric.

As we were wrapping up, we made sure that Mr. Lord made a special note that suit is to be stitched using the reverse side of the fabric and reminded again about the bottom.

Those were the luxurious days when custom-tailoring was taken to perfection. We were asked to return for trial one week after on a Saturday.

Designated Saturday arrived.

We returned to Lord’s. Mr. Lord shouted something to a big hole in the corner of the ceiling. A few minutes later, like a divine descent from sky, a short man descended from the ceiling with a bundle in hand we assumed my custom-tailored suit.

Mr. Lord showed us the content ad asked, “Is this yours?”

It was indeed our fabric, just as we had left with him one week ago, in one piece!

“Very sorry, Sir. We got busy. Please come again on Tuesday. I will have it ready.”

Believe it or not. We were not at all surprised, nor we were mad. It was universal experience of those days - no matter which tailor, which area, which season. First promised date was to be taken as “Please come and remind,” or find your to be tailored material and move it to the front of the queue. Phone reminders would not work for this purpose.

Tuesday re-visit was fruitful. All three pieces were ready for trial. All seem to fit nicely, although I saw Mr. Lord busy with his sharp tailor’s chalk marking things here and there. A big relief was that the wrong side of fabric was used correctly as instructed. Trousers with its sprawling bottom Impressively hid my narrow-pointed shoes. However, my would be felt that the crease was slightly off center. Mr. Lord agreed to fix it and called us for another trial on the next day.

Trial was approved on second pass. My first custom-tailored suit was ready and picked up two days after, just in time for the wedding.

With perfect fit, elegant flare of bell bottom and the unique vibrant color concoction my suit set me apart as the man of the Day at the wedding. My suit travelled with me on my honeymoon in that chilly January. It made me look my very best everywhere by the side of my even better looking half, whether we were in front of royal Taj Mahal in its magnificent white marble, or we had completely different background of majestic Qutub Minar in its fluted red sandstone.

In Shimla, my suit and I were together in an unforgettable mad adventure of chasing a monkey. We were under a tree, and I was reloading the camera with new film roll. Just then one monkey suddenly appeared , grabbed the exposed roll by my side and started running away. We the dismayed newlyweds were running behind in despair. Good hearted monkey saw us and changed his mind. He dropped the film roll, ran away to nearby woods to hide and watch smiles return to the happy couple.

My suit was on me on my first flight to the USA and when I landed in New York. It went with me on AMTRACK to Syracuse. My suit and I were the only two to disembark on completely deserted Syracuse Rail Station on that January day amidst the Blizzard of 1978.

My suit silently played its role during my immigration interview in Buffalo. It was on me for my first ever conference presentation at an international conference in Sheraton, Washington, DC. At the evening social event , the hotel lobbies and the adjoining ball rooms were flooded with army of Democrats. They had gathered for celebration, expectantly awaiting election results and victory speech by President Carter. Things did not turn out that way. But on that day, on entire floor swarming with males in Black Tie, there was one person easy to spot. It was yours truly in his unique custom-tailored suit.

My suit fondly decorated me in many more conferences and on many more occasions until about late eighties when I could no longer fit into it.

My first custom-tailored suit was truly one in millions. All the years I wore it, all the years since last use, all the years since we bought the fabric in 1975, I have not seen my fabric on anybody. nor have I seen it on sale in any regular or high-end department stores. Neither the wrong side nor the right side!

Whereas I still remember the face of Mr. Lord, the tailor, I am not able to remember what eventually happened to my first custom-tailored suit.

ISW Garba 2024

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 02:03:15 GMT

On October 4th and 5th 2024, we had two nights of Garba and Raas at our India Center. Our center was bustling with activities even days prior, as we had a "Garba Workshop" open to the public for the first time, for free, where around 45-50 people attended and learned to play the traditional dance form of Navratri garba and dandiya. Cultural Committee volunteers made sure to teach and prepare attendees for the upcoming weekend of fun.

Our India Center was transformed and decorated to welcome 400+ guests each night, where they played in our new hall and also outdoors on the patio. We sold out days before, reaching our maximum capacity! The old hall was filled with people enjoying delicious food and buying jewelry, as well as experiencing the new 360 photo booth!

Friday night, we had our very own Jhankaar Beats singers jamming with a specially invited live band all the way from New Jersey. They made everyone dance to their melodious singing and music, be it traditional Gujarati folk songs to hindi numbers to the crowd favorite Sannedo!! Javed bhai set up the perfect audio system indoors and outdoors on our beautifully lit and decorated patio. A highlight for the night was the crowd dancing to a very famous dhol player, who is known for performing non-stop for hours at a time!

Saturday night DJ SIDD was in the house! He made sure to keep everyone on their feet the entire evening, until midnight! We even got to see the younger generation experience the tradition with full enthusiasm. The cherry on top was the weather being just perfect in order to be outdoors sweating it out dancing to non stop rhythmic beats

On both nights, a traditional aarti was performed with lots of delicious prasad offered to Devi Ma, a great opportunity for the community to come together and pray. We were fortunate enough to have many people complimenting throughout the event and wanting more! Our volunteers at ISW worked very hard as always in front and behind the scenes.

ISW would like to thank all of our volunteers for helping us organize such an amazing weekend packed with garba, dandiya, great food, beautiful vendors, and an enthusiastic crowd! We would also like to thank our community at large, for coming to celebrate with us.

May Ma Durga bless us all to come together again next year with more energy and an even bigger event!

For pictures, visit:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.550119874337198&type=3

- By Komal Tanna

ISW & Saheli Walk at Lake Street Park, Shrewsbury

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:32:49 GMT

ISW & Saheli Walk at Lake Street Park, Shrewsbury

We had 26 people meet last week on October 5, in solidarity for this crucial cause. Participants had the opportunity to walk in purple to show their support and learn about available resources.

Join us in making a difference and amplifying the voices of those affected by domestic violence. Together, we can create a safer, more supportive community for everyone.

Saheli - deepali@saheliboston.org
ISW - smitam.isw@gmail.com
amitarao.isw@gmail.com

Saheli, a nonprofit organization from Woburn MA dedicated to empowering South Asian and Arab-speaking women and children to lead safe and healthy lives, is proud to collaborate with the India Society of Worcester (ISW) for a Domestic Violence Awareness Walk. ISW's mission to preserve, promote, and celebrate India's rich cultural heritage—including its diverse arts, languages, and religious traditions—aligns with shared goals of fostering community engagement and taking a stand against domestic violence.

No Free Health Stop on Oct 9

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:17:35 GMT

The ISW Free Health Stop is cancelled for Wednesday Oct 9 in Observance of Durga Puja.

Other Worcester Free clinics are open on other days that week - in case anyone is not able to wait till the following Wednesday https://www.worcesterfreecare.org/home.

ISW honored at Boston Celtics' annual Group Leader Appreciation event

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:55:38 GMT

--submitted by Ekta Jain

In recognition of our ongoing partnership and support, the India Society of Worcester (ISW) was honored with an invitation to the Boston Celtics' annual Group Leader Appreciation event on August 17, 2024. Held at the exclusive Auerbach Center, the Celtics' practice facility, the event provided a unique opportunity to tour the state-of-the-art facility. Ekta described the experience as invigorating, noting, “Touring the facility where world basketball champions practice was incredible."

Earlier this year, on March 18, 2024, Ekta Dance Academy, in collaboration with ISW, performed during the Celtics-Detroit game at TD Garden. The performance, featuring her 45 students captivated an audience of over 19,000 with their enchanting Indian and Bollywood dance routines.

Art Meets Community: The Creation of the ISW Mural by Suchitra Shinde

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 13:08:32 GMT

What is a mural?(video) At its core, a mural is a large artwork painted onto walls or other surfaces, often meant to beautify spaces or communicate a story that reflects culture, history, or community values. This definition perfectly explains what I aimed with my mural, but let me take you on a journey beyond the definition and into the story behind it.

The main goal of the mural was to transform a dull, industrial metal storage container surface in the backyard of India Society or Worcester's (ISW) India Center building which sat right next to a children’s playground, creating an aesthetically unpleasing view. I wanted to turn this eyesore into something beautiful which would match with the energy of the backyard and playground. The task was large (literally), spanning a surface of 10 feet by 40 feet (400 square feet) with corrugated metal surface. And, of course, I had to contend with the height of the container and the unpredictable New England weather. For the design, I wanted something that would connect deeply with Indian culture, incorporating motifs like paisleys, arches, elephants, and the peacock—India's national bird. I chose colors and patterns to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere that would appeal to both passersby and the children playing nearby.

Designing on paper was one thing, but transferring that onto a massive, corrugated metal container was another challenge entirely. It was all about precision—constant measuring and re-measuring to ensure symmetry. I started the project mid July 2024 and my usual schedule was between 6:00am-8:00am depending upon weather and other commitments which lasted for about 25 days. I quickly realized that even clear days had their issues: wet surfaces caused by condensation, rain from the previous night, or the dirt that gathered when the lawn was mowed. Each morning started with cleaning, drying, and prepping the surface.

A particularly special part of the mural was painting the ISW logo. Replicating the exact font and style was important to me. Finishing that part of the mural brought me a new sense of closeness to the logo and everything it represents. ISW symbolizes not just a community organization, but a place where traditions are celebrated, connections are nurtured, and a sense of belonging thrives.

The few early visitors of this project in the backyard were fearless rabbits, couple of turkeys and a deer who made my summer mornings enjoyable. A big cheer to my husband Mangesh for being by my side and steadying the ladder, allowing me to reach new heights—both literally and artistically—to bring my design to life!

I am deeply thankful to ISW and the Symphony team for the opportunity to contribute in my own small way, and for their unwavering support throughout the project. It was a memorable summer 2024 for me, and I hope this mural, fragment of my heart continues to add beauty and meaning to the India Center’s backyard, where it will be enjoyed during playground activities, pavilion events, and more!

- Suchitra Shinde

Before photo:

After photo:

In progress:

India Society of Worcester Raises Over $385,000 at 2024 Gala

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 13:58:34 GMT

--submitted by Rajesh Khare

WORCESTER, MA – The India Society of Worcester (ISW) raised over $385,000 at its annual gala, held on September 21, 2024, at the historic Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts. The event marked a significant milestone for the blossoming of the organization as it successfully navigated the dual challenges of emerging from the COVID pandemic while expanding its activities and managing a facility that has doubled in size. Despite the challenges of such rapid growth, the organization has maintained its unique volunteer spirit.

The funds will help retire the remaining loan taken to finance the 8,000-square-foot expansion of the India Center, completed in 2021. “We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our community. Thanks to their support and contributions, we successfully raised over $385,000 at this gala. With the funds raised, ISW will soon be debt-free, allowing us to focus entirely on expanding our services and programs,” said Dr. Sanjay Shah, Gala Fundraising Chair.

The gala kicked off with a special moment honoring the major donors, who were recognized on stage by Dr. Shah for their continuous support. Subu Kota, longtime supporter, messaged that he was ‘very happy to attend the gala and meet all the donors and supporters. Great occasion to pay off the loan and see India center debt free. Bharti and Vithal Bhakta, sent their ‘Heartfelt thanks to all friends of ISW family for making the Gala a Grand event. Awesome entertainment .Shiamin and Raj Melville, longtime ISW supporters, shared their thoughts on why they continue to stay committed: "We can choose to be involved in many programs, but for us, there is no other organization like ISW, to which we have been committed since 1995. As Sanjay Bhai says, it’s in our DNA." Shiamin Melville also served as the Co-Chair of the Gala Organizing Committee.

The evening’s entertainment began with a performance by the ISW Symphony Ensemble, featuring Manisha Parmar, Sankar Gangaikondan, Kaizad Patel, and Sarita Deshpande, followed by a captivating set by the Berklee College of Music Indian Ensemble, a world-renowned collective and a viral sensation known for its global Indian sound. The Berklee group’s contemporary Indian music had the audience on their feet, dancing throughout the evening. Kudos to Sarita for her well crafter selection of songs that appealed to our diverse audience and to Dr Kirti Kadam our delightful emcee for the evrnt

Attendees were warmly welcomed and treated to traditional Indian appetizers and sugarcane juice, while the dinner featured a variety of authentic Indian dishes, followed by a selection of mouth-watering desserts.

Reflecting on the evening, Puneet Kohli, President of ISW, said, “ISW was honored to host a gala at the historic Mechanics Hall to celebrate our volunteers and the community who have supported us over the years as we expanded our footprint in Shrewsbury at our beloved India Center and reached the milestone of becoming debt-free from the expansion loan. It was an evening filled with fun, laughter, music, and gratitude. Thanks to everyone who made it happen!”

The gala highlighted ISW's continued commitment to offering a wide array of services to the Indian-American community in Greater Worcester and beyond. ISW provides a free weekly Health Stop, a senior support group, crisis counseling, and its popular language and cultural school, which teaches seven Indian languages. With the expanded center, ISW has also introduced new programs, including a Dhol Tasha Lezim group, 3D printing classes, college prep workshops, networking events for professionals, a women’s empowerment group, and various sports activities like pickleball, table tennis, chess, and carrom. All these activities are supported behind the scene by our robust rental and events based income and shared in a timely fashion by our free ESandesh newsletter.

In addition to its wide range of educational and community programs, ISW hosts annual celebrations such as India Day, Diwali, Garba, and the Harvest Festival, along with religious events including Pongal, Ganeshotsav, Durga Puja, Krishna Janmashtami, and Christmas. These events celebrate the rich diversity of Indian culture and traditions, making ISW a vital cultural hub for the community. ISW also collaborates with several respected local community organizations to further strengthen its reach and impact in the region.

Kamlesh Khilnani, Co-Chair of the Gala Organizing Committee, praised the evening’s success, stating, “ISW's 2024 Grand Gala was a shining testament to community spirit, showcasing local talent in a thrilling musical extravaganza that brought everyone to their feet. Our exceptional Executive Board, volunteer group, and youth team made event planning seamless, earning well-deserved accolades.”

Ashish Cowlagi, past president of ISW, added, “Managing rapid growth while preserving its unique all-volunteer ethos could challenge any organization, but the community volunteers have responded with great poise. What truly defines the India Center isn’t the physical space, but the unwavering spirit of our volunteers.”

Barin Bando, also a past president of ISW, reflected on the evening's atmosphere: “Last evening, when I walked in, I was warmly greeted by Puneet's son. Sanjay Shah praised everyone for making ISW what it is today. On behalf of all of us, we thank you, Sanjay. Your work isn't finished yet—it's time to start on your next expansion project. Puneet, Ashish C., Jagan, and team, your leadership is phenomenal. Now, I see the next generation actively involved in ISW. Show me another organization in the USA as vibrant as this. You’ll find many clubs across the country that do well, but members come and go. ISW is unique in having three generations working together.”

Sakshi Gurao, ISW’s Assistant Treasurer, added, “Thank you to all the donors. Your support has helped expand the India Center and made our community stronger.”

Qingjian Shi, who represented the Asian Business Empowerment Council at the event, shared, “Congrats to the India Society of Worcester for a beautiful evening that left me truly in awe of how a community can come together to build a 'home away from home.'”

With the funds raised at the gala, ISW is one step closer to realizing its vision of a community center that serves as a hub for cultural, educational, and social initiatives. The organization remains committed to enriching the lives of its members and supporting the growth of Indian culture in the Greater Worcester and MetroWest areas.

For more information about ISW and its programs, visit www.iswonline.org.

ISW and SOS Talent Contest 2024

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:59:54 GMT

-----By Tanisha Rao, Junior, Westborough High School

ISW and Spirit of Shrewsbury hosted their 10th annual Talent Show on September 28th at Saint John's High School. People of all different ages competed for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies. First for the Tiny Tots (8 and younger), our winner was Stuti Ghosh, who preformed an original Shiva dance. In 2nd place we had Shrinika Chetla and in 3rd was Ishani Argawala. All of our tiny tots put their all in the performances and they should all be proud of themselves. In the Young Icons category (9-12 years), Reyansh Parashar won 1st place, with Riyansika Rao in 2nd and Lakhith Chetla in 3rd. The three places were determined by only a couple points and the Young Icons made it very difficult for the judges to choose a winner. Next up, we had Terrific Teens (13-19 years). Although we only had three participants, all of them were extremely talented and engaged the crowd. In first place was Guoyn Lin with his piece on the piano. In second was Saina Mujumdar, and in third was Arush Jagan. And finally we had our Awesome Adults (20+). In first place was Ria Dey, who sang a piece by Asha Bhosle. In 2nd was Sowjanya Sake, and in 3rd was Vidya Chandrasekharan. Every single participant was incredibly talented and should absolutely consider returning to the Spirit of Shrewsbury talent show next year and participate in other ISW events.

ISW volunteers, Arush and Prisha, created handmade presents for the judges. They went around to local business and collected crayons, then soaked and melted them into the letters ISW. Proud of them for thinking outside the box and being sustainable in the process!

More photos https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.544364014912784&type=3

ISW Ganeshotsav 2024

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 21:42:18 GMT

ISW Ganeshostav celebrated its 12th year in a row this past Saturday on September 14th at India center. Like each year’s tradition the celebration started with a short procession for Ganesha arrival which was followed by Pooja. This year’s highlight was that the pooja was performed by the youngsters, teenagers between ages 11-17 within the community. They sat through and patiently performed the pooja as directed. After the pooja was the Arti recitation which was attended by almost over 200 people. The hall was filled with Devine ambience in praise of Lord Ganesha. This year the team had chosen “Celebrating Languages” as the theme for decoration and entertainment. The decoration surrounding Ganesha, was showcasing calligraphed quotes in over 16 Indian and foreign languages.

Following the arti, there were some interesting entertainment programs based on the theme - skits, dances and songs performed by local artists. The audience applauded the show wholeheartedly. Following the show, was a befitting end to event with ISWs very own Dhal-Tasha ensemble taking the Ganesha procession through the parking lot of ISW in style. It was loud, it was magical and it was mesmerizing. The spirit of attendees was unwavering like every year. After the day full of festivities, the team had organized catered dinner and say bye to their favorite Ganesh, while eagerly waiting for him to come next year.

ISW SGM Planning Team would like to thank all our attendees, participants and volunteers for overwhelming help and support to make this event a great success.

We look forward to seeing you all at next year's Ganeshotsav Event.

pictures of the event - PC - Shrikant PC - Jagan

Dhol Tasha's Growing Popularity – ISW Symphony DTL in the news

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 03:29:07 GMT

Dhol Tasha is gaining momentum across the U.S., and ISW Symphony Dhol Tasha Lezim (DTL) is proudly at the forefront. Featured in several publications like Lokvani and IndiaWest, our DTL team is being recognized for bringing this rich cultural tradition to life in the local community.

With performances at festivals and events, ISW DTL is not just entertaining but also creating a sense of unity and pride in our heritage. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, ISW is helping lead the way in this growing movement, making each performance a celebration of culture and community.

New India Abroad

English: https://www.newindiaabroad.com/english/features/the-rise-of-dhol-tasha-in-america-boston-baltimore-and-beyond

Hindi: https://www.newindiaabroad.com/news/hindi/the-rise-of-dhol-tasha-in-america-spreading-boston-baltimore-and-beyond

Punjabi: https://www.newindiaabroad.com/punjabi/news/the-rise-of-dhol-tasha-in-america-boston-baltimore-and-beyond-punjabi

Gujarati: https://www.newindiaabroad.com/gujarati/entertainment/the-rise-of-dhol-tasha-in-america-boston-baltimore-and-beyond-now

Lokvani

https://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=21085

Punekar News

https://www.punekarnews.in/from-coast-to-coast-dhol-tasha-groups-on-the-rise-in-usa/

India West

https://indiawest.com/from-coast-to-coast-in-the-us-dhol-tasha-groups-on-the-rise/

NewsGlu

https://newsglu.com/energizing-ganpati-celebrations-the-growing-popularity-of-dhol-tasha-in-the-u-s/

News By Wire

https://newsbywire.com/energizing-ganpati-celebrations-the-growing-popularity-of-dhol-tasha-in-the-u-s/

Trip down India Center Memory Lane by Barin Bando

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 16:43:45 GMT

--Submitted by Barin Bando

Excellent archive for ISW history. I could be wrong by a year or two but it's worth mentioning few names who played a significant role in shaping up ISW. It was 85 or 86, I have played a small role convincing three individuals by visiting their homes in Holden, Dudley and Northboro to join ISW committee as members at large. It was Sahadev Passey, Jitendra Kalia and Subu Kota. Kalia accepted to write off losses so we could have Jagjit Sing concert in Mechanic Hall. ISW made good amount of money. Dr Passey found the property and we all know this family's contribution even today. Subu Kota gave the first 100k to build the community center. Carolyn' parents and Dr. Passey renovated the old ISW building and garage. Dr. Passey, Dr. Ram and Vinay Deshmukh started Sandesh magazine. Dilip Bhavsar created ISW telephone directory. Dr. Pandey and Anuranjan Kalia and Satya Mitra played a significant role in fundraising. Crisis committee was formed in CBS Patel's house after the death of a UMass Amherst student who died in Worcester hospital. Usha Verma, Rajoo Ananth took a leadership role for day one. ISW school, IYG, Showcase India are Carolyn, Nalini Goyal's initiative. India day, Health stop Passey gift to all. Shyam Sharma, Pushpa Joshi made their invaluable contributions to ISW. Asok Vichare, Rajiv Dayal are behind the scenes significant contributors. New generation leaders Ashish C, Puneet K need no introduction for their invaluable contributions. Silent workers are Sanjay Shah, everyone knows what he has done for ISW. Shri Garg for managing the center, Avad Ramachandra for plantings and maintaining ISW garden. Shobha Sastri for always helping ISW

It's our duty to acknowledge there gifts. Some moved to other states and few still active and contributing. Thank you all.

ISW PEN Business Owners' Meet

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 05:54:46 GMT

On August 28, 2024, the Professionals and Entrepreneurs Network (PEN) at ISW hosted the inaugural meeting of its CEO and Business Owners Group, initiated by Kelly Mittal, Ragoo Raghunathan, and Raj Melville. This gathering brought together a diverse group of around 10 entrepreneurs, ranging from those who had launched their businesses within the past year to seasoned business owners with decades of experience. The first session focused on introductions and a deep dive into marketing strategies, where members engaged in a collaborative activity to discuss and evaluate the effectiveness of various marketing approaches across different industries. The meeting concluded on an optimistic note, with participants brimming with ideas for future sessions and group expansion. The networking continued beyond the meeting, with members eagerly exchanging thoughts and connections even as they left the venue.

Please feel free to share the form below with anyone who might benefit from joining this group - https://forms.gle/Y3hjHRgT3GDA4EaV6

ISW Humrahee - Fall prevention and CPR Training

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 05:51:37 GMT

We addressed two critical and relevant issues at our Humrahi session on 8/24/24.

First half of the session was a talk by Dr Manjul Shukla about how to prevent falls . The magnitude of this topic is evident by the fact that -Approximately one in four older adults fall each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Fall related injuries cost more than $50 billion annually, including hospitalizations, treatments, and long-term care.

Dr Shukla explained at length all the different ways we can reduce the risk of falls and improve safety for elderly individuals.

Preventing falls in the elderly involves a combination of home modifications, physical exercise, and medical care.

It was an interactive session with the audience being actively involved .All their queries related to the topic were clarified and resolved in depth by Dr Shukla .

Second topic of the day was cardiopulmonary resuscitation for a non health care provider .It was conducted by Kirti Nagpal.

As a bystander there may be a situation where one needs to take control and save someone’s life .Learnig CPR is a life skill .

Research indicates that COCPR compression only CPR can be as effective as traditional CPR with breaths, particularly for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

We had everybody practice compressions on a manikin. The deal was to get an idea of the depth and the speed of the chest compressions to be effective for resuscitation.

We also practiced the use of an AED for a witnessed collapse. A defibrillator can be a crucial asset for improving the survival rate secondary to a cardiac arrest .AED can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm .

Dr Passey was there the whole time helping our Humrahi members get comfortable in using the AED.

The session ended with most of the members feeling comfortable and empowered . The CPR and AED are two simple but very effective tools that can have a significant impact on the outcome for a patient . It is literally a matter of life and death.

It was followed by our socialization session of Gupshup over tea and samosa and the Karoake session.

We had a few new attendees for the Manoranjan Karoake program.

There were some powerful rendition of Bollywood songs presented by our talented singers including our new Humrahi member Mr Nirmaljit Singh Ji.

Would like to extend my thanks and express my gratitude for all the Humrahi members who attended the program and to Dr Passey for bringing the AED and the Manikins and helping through the review session.

Community partners since 2020

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 03:02:52 GMT

While putting together the brochure for ISW Gala 2024, the team sought input from our awesome event organizers to share a list of organizations in our community we have partnered with, since 2020. The list was mind boggling, kudos to our team, and its still growing

American Tamil Academy, North Carolina
Asian Business Empowerment Council
Asian Community Fund
Boston Vaadhya Kala Sangham (Chenda Melam)
Cancer Shakti Foundation
Celtics
DesisAroundRockyHillCT (Connecticut)
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
ElevAsian
Gujarati (Navnit Publication Ahmedabad)
Hindi USA, New Jersey
IIT Agne
Indian Medical Association of New England
India Association of Greater Boston (IAGB)
Kannada Academy, California
Learnquest Academy of Music
Music Worcester
Natick Multicultural Council
New England Botanic Garden
New England Marathi Mandal
Northborough Multicultural Council
Saheli
Samarthanam.org
Samskrita Bharati, Maryland
Senior Centers in Northboro, Auburn
Shri Gajanan Maharaj Bhakt Pariwar
Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusett
Spirit of Shrewsbury
Telugu (Lulu Press, NC)
Volunteers for Seniors
Woo Sox
Worcester Art Museum
Worcester Center for Arts and Crafts
Worcester Polytecnic Institute
Worcester Railers Hockey

ISW India Day 2024

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 03:11:53 GMT

The India Society of Worcester (ISW) proudly celebrated its 36th annual India Day and its 61st anniversary on August 10, 2024, at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. The event was a tremendous success, drawing thousands of attendees and showcasing a vibrant array of cultural and community activities.

This year’s India Day featured a dynamic range of activities, including:

Cultural Performances: The event showcased captivating dance and music performances, celebrating the rich artistic traditions of India.
Business Expo and Job Fair: The event featured a Business Expo and Job Fair offering networking opportunities and career prospects.
Art Fair: An exhibit of traditional and contemporary Indian art.
Vendors Bazaar: Hosted a diverse range of products, including crafts and jewelry.
India Youth Group and Sports Group: Provided engaging activities such as interactive games and chess
The event also featured a health stop for attendees.
Indian Ethnic Food: An extensive selection of authentic Indian cuisine, with popular dishes provided by vendors Bheemas and Peppers.

Notable Firsts:

Business Expo and Job Fair: The event introduced its first-ever Business Expo and Job Fair.
Premier of ISW song: Performed by the ISW Vocal Ensemble, it added an highlight to the celebration.
Sanskrit Skit: For the first time, the ISW School Sanskrit class presented a Sanskrit skit.
Freshly Made Dosas: Attendees enjoyed freshly made live dosas, a popular Indian delicacy, prepared on-site for the first time.

Shiamin Melville, a long-time ISW member since 1996, reflected on the event: “As a long-time veteran attendee of India Day, my favorite part is meeting the families of our volunteers and reconnecting with our alumni volunteers and former school students. For me, it’s like a family gathering combined with a school reunion, mixed in with great dances and food.”

Celebrating a Milestone: 25th Performance of ISW Dhol Tasha Lezim - IAGB India Day

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 02:50:59 GMT

The ISW Symphony Dhol Tasha Lezim (DTL) team reached a significant milestone with its 25th public performance as it participated in the recent India Day 2024 celebrations organized by the India Association of Greater Boston (IAGB). The event took place on Aug 17th at the iconic Hatch Shell Memorial in Boston, a venue renowned for hosting significant cultural gatherings and this was a proud moment for the DTL team. It highlighted the reach and impact of the group, not just within Worcester but across the wider region.

Since its inception in 2021, the DTL team has consistently delivered performances that resonate with the community, performing across various locations from Connecticut to Boston. This group is uniquely diverse, comprising women, children, and senior citizens. This appearance at the IAGB India Day was a strong demonstration of community spirit, engaging the audience with powerful rhythms and coordinated movements.

Sanket Gurao, one of the founding members of the group, added his experience: “The whole atmosphere gave me great vibes, especially being right next to the historic Charles River. Performing in front of such an energetic crowd was exhilarating. The event was very well organized, and the DTL team did an excellent job managing to play a variety of patterns. This experience boosted our confidence and helped us set even more intricate patterns.”

ISW's involvement in IAGB India Day reflects its ongoing commitment to cultural exchange and collaboration within the Indian community in the greater Boston area. The organization regularly partners with various groups in the region to promote Indian heritage and provide a platform for cultural expressions. These partnerships are crucial in continuing to share our cultural heritage and in strengthening ties within the community.

Volunteers:

Tasha: Kaustubh Sahasrabudhe, Manoj Gera, Parag Kunte, Sanket Gurao, Vinay Vyas

Dhol: Ayaan Sahasrabudhe, Arjun Sahasrabudhe, Cyrus Bhada, Meenakshi Vaze, Rajesh Khare, Siddhant Pawnarkar, Sonia Gera

Taal/Flags: Sarita Deshpande, Shamsnaz Bhada

Zhanj: Ashok Kale, Sharat Amin

Humrahi Picnic and Goldilocks perfect weather

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:38:01 GMT

---Kirti Nagpal

We organized our Annual Humrahi Picnic on 7/27/24.

It was at the Dean park in Shrewsbury .

The weather was “Goldilocks perfect” just the right amount of Sun with a gentle pleasing soft breeze . The Gazebo at the park was nicely decorated with clusters of white and pink balloons interspersed with crepe paper streamers!!! The American and Indian flag with our Humrahi banner was fluttering softly and conveying the message of integrity in diversity!!

We started the day with some introduction and then dived right into playing some group games like passing the parcel ,a modified version of Antakshari .All our senior friends were engaging with full vigor and enthusiasm and exhibited lively and positive spirit when it came to things like “walk like a duck “ or “ do a chicken dance “ as part of the tasks in the game.

Narayan ji and Sharat ji were skillfully managing the music and sound department and helping with the games.

We had an extensive array of delicious snacks and desserts.There was chick pea salad , pasta salad ,Dhokla, sandwiches , poha ,laddoo, brownies and biryani just to name a few . Of all the different culinary delights Sev Usal was by far the most popular choice among the attendees!

The whole atmosphere of fun and play and Masti was quite tangible!!

Everyone enjoyed and savored the sun and fun through the 3hrs we were at the Dean park .

The incredible turn out we had for our picnic is a testament to the growing popularity of our ISW Humrahi clan. We are a family and we are growing . Lots of gratitude to the volunteers that helped with the organization and execution of the plan . And of course heartfelt appreciation for all the people who attended .we look forward to see you all soon

ISW at the Hot Night in Worcester

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 23:27:46 GMT

---submitted by Sonia Gera

ISW at the Hot Night in the City event

Worcester Center for Crafts organized their annual Hot Night in the City event on Friday, July 19, 2024. Every year, it celebrates the traditions and processes of art in a fun way with music, dance, and fun. ISW participated in this event where we showcased the rich cultural heritage of India.

Mrs.Carolyn Passey’s beautifully curated artifacts displayed at the booth presented a range of artforms of India and gave the visitors a glimpse of the amazing Indian art and culture. Elegant traditional clothing mounted on mannequins, decorative woodwork and mirror-work handicraft items spoke volumes about the tireless dedication and passion of so many artisans back home. The models of various Indian musical instruments alongside an elegant Taj Mahal plate represented the bountifulness of our art and creativity. Beautiful Barbie dolls in Indian attires fascinated the young girls! The booth was interactive and the visitors seemed impressed by the information presented about the Indian flag, the Taj Mahal, facts about India, and the Indian musical instruments. The handouts included coloring sheets for kids, puzzles, and information about the upcoming India Day at DCU.The volunteers at the booth proudly shared the information about ISW and its active role in bringing the community together through its various handles such as ISW-PEN, Humrahi, IYG, WEW, ISWU, Symphony, etc.

PEN Co Chair Kelly Mittal in Worcester Business Journal

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 23:30:46 GMT

Breaking down barriers: Mass. is easing citizenship requirements to help immigrant-owned businesses obtain diversity certifications

Kelly Mittal, founder and CEO of myKidzDay, said barriers to access, such as the SDO citizenship requirement, are part of what keep some immigrant entrepreneurs from succeeding in business. Mittal founded myKidzDay in 2012 after her first daughter was born.

By Mica Kanner-Mascoloelly

WBJ Updated: July 22, 2024

India Day 2024, come and celebrate

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 18:39:36 GMT

The India Society of Worcester is thrilled to announce the celebration of India Day 2024, marking the 61st anniversary of the organization. The festivities will take place on August 10, 2024, from 12 PM to 7 PM at the DCU Center in Worcester, bringing together the community for a day of cultural immersion and celebration.

Who: The India Society of Worcester
What: India Day 2024 - Celebration of 61 Incredible Years
When: August 10, 2024, from 12 PM to 7 PM
Where: DCU Center, Worcester, MA

Theme: "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - One World One Family."

This year's India Day promises to be a spectacular event, featuring a variety of cultural performances, traditional Indian cuisine, art exhibitions, a business expo, job fair, free health stop, activities for youth, bazaar, and music. India Day at DCU is more than just a cultural celebration; it's also a chance to explore job opportunities, participate in a business expo, showcase your talents, and connect with the community. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the diverse traditions of India.

Come to enjoy and participate in ISW's remarkable tradition of India Day celebrations, promising a fulfilling day. Calling out all choreographers, vendors, sponsors, and advertisers.

This free event is open to the public, and everyone is invited to join in the festivities.

Contact:
India Society of Worcester: ID24@iswonline.org
For more information, please visit:
https://iswonline.org/event-5704780

India Day 2024 Advt Sponsor Signup Form

India Day 2024 Vendor Registration Form

India Day 2024 Choreographer/Cultural Form

ISW India Day 2024 Career Fair Booth Registration

In Memoriam: Dr. Athan Flessas

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 15:20:20 GMT

India Society of Worcester mourns the passing of Dr. Athan Flessas.

As a cardiologist, Dr. Flessas was a long standing volunteer of the ISW Free Health Stop from 2015 to 2022.

He passed away on June 30th, 2024. His generosity, kindness and irrepressible sense of humor will be missed. In lieu of flowers, his family requests you consider a donation to the ISW Free health stop.

Obituary of Dr. Flessas

Donation in memory of Dr Flessas

ISW Graduation Satsang

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:27:30 GMT

ISW Graduation Satsang was held on June 30, 2024

Puja was conducted by Usha Verma, outside on our Patio, and our 2024 graduates were felicitated by friends and their family. Prasad sponsored by Sahdev and Carolyn Passey.

Religion Team

Geetanjali, Nisha and Carolyn

Humrahi & Volunteer for Seniors 'Golden Talent Show'

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 04:12:53 GMT

---submitted by Kirti Nagpal

India society of Worcester’s Humrahi group in collaboration with VFS ,a nonprofit organization from South Easton hosted a talent show for seniors on 6/22/24.

The event was held at Indian center in Shrewsbury.It was attended by people from different parts of New England area.

The energy and vigor that our senior citizens brought to the stage was incredible .

Our Humrahi group and VFS members showcased diverse range of talents including melodious singing ,graceful dancing ,heartlfelt poetry, nostalgic dialogue narration , ballroom dancing , fashion walk and so on .We even had a participant who did tarot card reading for the people who attended the event. All the performances were well received .The group dance and melody show was a true testament of bonding and camaraderie between our Humrahi members.

The event including the Garba dance was very lively and entertaining so much so that the audience jumped in and started to dance to the beats of “Dholida “Bollywood song .

The interesting element was that some teenagers from the party at our rental hall were so enthralled by our seniors dancing to peppy songs that they also joined in and had their own groovy moves to our Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhonsle songs.

Rajay Goel and Haren Ji 's soulful singing ,Sharat ji ‘s light-hearted and humorous performance, Amita ji and Vijay ji's impressive dance moves ,Monie ji's elegant and graceful ball room dance routine and Veena Kohli 's and Raj Nagpal's poetry rich in wisdom are a few highlights of the event .

The whole collaboration between ISW and VFS was an astounding success evident by the energetic and uplifting aura felt at the event .

Our very talented MCs Mr Narayan Sharma and Ms Manisha Parmar kept the show entertaining and engaging for the audience .

I would also like to acknowledge all our volunteers whose efforts, and dedication helped us coordinate this event flawlessly.

We would like to express our gratitude to Ms Pratima Penumarthy and Ramakrishna Penumarthy for their altrustic efforts and dedication for the seniors in our community. We hope to continue our alliance with VFS towards our mutual goal and vision of empowering our seniors and helping them live life to the fullest.

ISW honors PVSA awardees

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 22:09:34 GMT

Award ceremony held as part of Graduation Satsang on June 30, 2024

“The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.” - DeAnn Hollis.

Facebook pictures Link

Congratulations on the PVSA award for volunteer work in 2023. You dedication to volunteer work is indeed exemplary, and ISW recognizes your hard work

2023 Teens 11-15
1. Gold Aditi Jayendran
2. Gold Arush Jagan
3. Gold Mahati Jayendran
4. Gold Sohan Hegde
5. Silver Priancka Ika
6. Bronze Ayan Mishra
2023 Young Adults 16-25
1. Gold Aadi Dixit
2. Gold Dhruv Jagan
3. Gold Kunal Chauhan
4. Gold Maurya Virmani
5. Gold Tanushree Nekenti
6. Gold Tara Chintapalli
7. Silver Aaditya Yadav
8. Bronze Prachet Mahawar
9. Bronze Samvriddhi Shukla

2023 Adults 25+
1. Gold Ekta Jain
2. Gold Geetanjali Virmani
3. Bronze Ashwani Virmani
4. Bronze Priya Vaidya

ISW celebrated International Yoga Day

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 21:04:15 GMT

---submitted by Usha Yadav.

On June 21st ISW celebrated International Yoga Day workshop. The theme for this year was ‘Yoga for self and society’ this highlight that the benefit of yoga practice not only enhance personal health and well-being , but it also helps foster positive awareness and participation as a society. Community members came together at the ISW center to enjoy yoga despite the heavy rains.

The workshop began indoors with a series of yoga poses, sun salutation and an introduction to varieties of breathing techniques. Narendra ji our yoga instructor demonstrated and explained about the Jal-Nethi technique. He explained how practicing jal-nethi helps people with allergies as these techniques help cleanse the nostrils and daily practice helps prevent colds/allergies in kids and adults. He ended the session with teaching some meditation techniques and ‘Om’ chanting.

This yoga workshop was run by our amazing volunteer Yoga instructor Narendra Karapurkar and the event was coordinated by Usha Yadav. More than 50 people participated in this event and practiced yoga, pranayama and learned about Jal-Nethi techniques.

Thanks to all who participated in this workshop.

Meet & Greet summary: Shantha Rangaswamy, Cricket Icon

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 19:37:37 GMT

Submitted by: Rajoo Ananth

Shantha Rangaswamy, a pioneering figure in Indian women's cricket was hosted by ISW on June 23, 2024 with help from Sharat Amin and women’s cricket coach Meera Subramanian. It was a fantastic open-hearted meeting with a humble, yet very significant cricket trailblazing and inspiring captain of the Indian cricket with so many awards and titles. It left us all in awe and wonder if we can try to inspire our US women’s teams towards world class performances with our community supports.

Shantha Rangaswamy became the first captain of the Indian women's cricket team in 1976 and led India to its first Test victory against the West Indies in the same year. She was the first Indian woman cricketer to score a Test century, achieving this milestone against New Zealand in 1977. As an all-rounder, Rangaswamy played 16 Test matches, scoring 750 runs at an average of 32.60 and taking 21 wickets. She also played 19 ODIs, scoring 287 runs and taking 12 wickets. She was the first woman cricketer to receive the Arjuna Award in 1976. In 2017, she became the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Women by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). After her playing career, Rangaswamy continued to contribute to cricket as a coach, selector, and commentator. She also became the first Indian female cricketer to represent the Indian Cricketers’ Association and the BCCI Apex Council in 2019.

Q and A with audience was very interactive and entertaining with inside stories from her life experiences. She stated that her secret to success was her passion for the game and full support from her family. She assured the audience that she will continue to offer all her expertise to enhance women’s cricket all over the world including our coach Meera Subramanian’s local cricket team Chikaddees in Massachusetts.

Dhol Tasha Lezim and vocal at Faneuil Market Place - Boston

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 21:09:52 GMT

In Boston's Faneuil Hall, Indian music's tale,

ISW's rhythms and melodies set sail.

Dhol-Tasha-Lezim, percussion's beat,

ISW's Vocal group, a mesmerizing feat.

The nice sunny afternoon of Saturday June 15 dazzled the audience with energetic drumming and synchronized movements of more than 40 ISW Symphony Performers. The folks dressed in colorful traditional attire added to the festive atmosphere. Their lively beats echoed through the marketplace, capturing the essence of Indian celebrations and festivals. Adding to the cadenced delight, the ISW Vocal group showcased their talent with energetic renditions contemporary Indian Film songs by A.R Rahaman. Their harmonious voices filled the air, complementing the rhythmic beats of the Dhol-Tasha-Lezim ensemble.

The event drew a diverse crowd of locals and tourists, all eager to experience the cultural richness of India right in the heart of Boston. Spectators were seen tapping their feet and swaying along to the infectious rhythms, creating a joyful and inclusive atmosphere. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, with its historic significance as a hub of cultural exchange, provided a perfect backdrop for this celebration of Indian heritage. The performance not only entertained but also highlighted the contributions of the Indian American community in Worcester to Massachusetts' cultural landscape.

As the sun set on the marketplace, the echoes of applause resonated, reflecting the audience's appreciation for the captivating performance by the ISW. The event served as a reminder of the power of music to unite people across cultures and create memorable experiences.

The Faneuil Market Place, originally constructed as a town government building and public hall for concerts and ceremonies, was alive with music, melody, rhythm, colors, and vibrant energy courtesy of the enthusiastic volunteers from the ISW (India Society of Worcester) Symphony/Vocal group. Spectators were captivated by the performance, joining in by dancing, waving flags, playing handheld jingling cymbals, singing along to familiar songs, and becoming part of the ISW troupe.

Jai Ho!

Please see the pictures and videos taken by Shruti Sivashankar, Atul Deshpande

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10Qgmh8Om85woX4iYdUl4xzS-mn_S6HG6?usp=drive_link

WEW “Women Who Win” book launch

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 12:12:21 GMT

submitted by Snehalata Kadam

The “Women Who Win” book launch on Saturday was a success! After a lovely dance celebrating what it means to be a woman, the panel discussion began. The panel featured the three authors of the book — Dr. Manju Sheth, Dr. Deepa Jhaveri, and Shaleen Sheth, the two guests of honor, Navjot and Nithya Singh, and was moderated by Dr. Kathryn Moncrief and myself.

“Women Who Win,” written during the pandemic, is a collection of inspirational stories from a variety of women across the globe, from all kinds of fields and backgrounds. What makes this book so special is the fact that the women featured in this book are women you would encounter in your everyday life — a friend, a neighbor, a teacher, someone in your town — but their passions, perseverance, and resilience still leap off the page. During the panel, we discussed those themes, the stories that really resonated with us, the process of researching and putting together a book from start to finish, and the importance of DEI and women’s empowerment in today’s world — particularly in the healthcare industry. The event ended with a confidence walk, and an ice cream and snacks social.

Thank you to all who attended, and please stay tuned for the next Women Empowering Women event — A power packed ramp walk of Confidence on August 24, 2024!

ISW School & Honorees at Indian Heritage Night at Woo Sox Polar Park

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:42:38 GMT

Recap: We all met at Polar Park on Friday evening, kids were excited. ISW School sang the Indian National Anthem beautifully, and Dr Passey, Ushaji and Tanvi Gahlot were recognized for their volunteer work. On arrival, we were greeted by DJ Raunak music at the Plaza, and delicious desi food by Peppers, Northboro. Flag bearers Sharat & Shiamin, and singers Diya, Carter & Ishan all contributed to the festivites. Jagan shared info about ISW in a radio interview. As part of pregame performance, Ekta Dance Academy danced to fun bollywood beats. Woo Sox promoted the awesome work done by ISW on screen. It was a proud moment for Indian Heritage night

For pictures, do click here

For Details on ISW School National Anthem, click here and here (ask for access

Pregame info:

ISW will be recognized as Heart of Worcester Woo Sox Recognizes a non-profit for their work in the community

Tickets at https://iswonline.org/event-5666636

Dr Passey honored as Hometown Hero CFP Honors an individual for service to their town, city, community
Usha Verma celebrated for Specialty Recognition Celebrates a special individual on the field
Tanvi Gahlot Ceremonial First Pitch
ISW School will sing National Anthem and High Five Tunnel
Ekta Dance Academy performs field performance
Food by Peppers, Northboro
DJ Raunak Desi music Polar Park DCU Plaza Performance/DJ

Hometown Hero CFP, Honors an individual for service to their town, city, community

Dr Sahdev Passey, MD, is a graduate of Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, India. He arrived in the U.S. in 1973 and has spent his whole professional medical career in the Worcester. He has been in private practice of pediatrics in Worcester since 1978. Dr. Passey is, or has been, an active volunteer with numerous professional, Political and social organizations, including: Director of Free Health Stop in Shrewsbury, since 2005; President of the India Society of Worcester; President of the Indo- American Forum for Political Education; President of the Indian Medical Association of New England, President of the Worcester District Medical Society, He has also served as Trustee of Massachusetts Medical Society, he is a one of the founding Directors of the South-East Asian Coalition of Central Mass and a Community Trustee of the United Way of Central MA, He has received the Community Physician of the Year and Senior Physician Volunteer of the year Awards from the Mass Medical Society and the Worcester District Society, a key to the City of Worcester, a Governor's Citation for his Community Service in Massachusetts and a Life time Achievement Award for his volunteer services from President Biden (PVSA). He attributes his accomplishment to his wife Carolyn and their children (Michael, Katelyn and Sean) and grandchildren for their sacrifices, support and help.

Specialty Recognition: Celebrates a special individual on the field

Usha Verma, M.A., LSW, is a sitarist, volunteer and advocate for elders living in Auburn, Massachusetts. Usha graduated with distinction from Punjab University in Chandigarh, India with a Masters of Liberal Arts specializing in Music. In 1982, Usha immigrated to the United States and raised her family. She continued to give sitar performances at various venues in Massachusetts as well as other nearby states. Ms. Verma served as a teacher, teaching the language and devotional songs, lyrics and their meanings using Indian Semi-Classical Music at the India Society of Worcester Cultural School for students of all ages.

Ms Verma is a licensed social worker, working several years to serve the elders in the local community and assisting adults with special needs. She has been an active member of the India Society of Worcester where she has served as the Chairperson for the Crisis Center for more than 15 years. Usha maintained her spirit of helping others by supporting victims of domestic violence through Saheli, a Massachusetts based organization for South Asian women.

Usha currently is employed as an outreach coordinator, a social worker at Auburn Senior Center and has been a volunteer for Sewa International for the last 5 years. She credits her mother Shyam Kanta Sood and father Mohinder Nath Sood for instilling a passion in her for helping those in need of support

Ceremonial First Pitch

Tanvi Gahlot has graduated from Westboro High School She exemplifies qualities of a youngster who stands out amongst her peers, as a Student teacher, and President and Vice President of the Indian Youth Group at ISW

ISW Humrahee Chair Yoga and Manoranjan- the Karaoke session

Tue, 28 May 2024 01:30:56 GMT

----submitted by Kirti Nagpal

We had a very relaxing yoga session on 5/25/24 under the guidance of one of the prominent Yoga instructors in our community Mrs. Alka Yadav Mehta.

We started the session with Anulom Vilom and Uijayi breathing exercises followed by gentle stretching exercises while seated on the chair .After that Alka ji guided us through a very innovative and creative way of practicing Surya Namaskar using chair as a support .Throughout the session the emphasis was on mindfulness and being present in the moment. The session ended with a guided meditation and body scan leaving us all very refreshed and rejuvenated. Alka ji also highlighted all the positive and long-term effects of daily yoga practice in controlling high blood pressure , diabetes and even chronic pain .Regular yoga can boost energy levels by improving circulation and stimulating the nervous system. It helps improve focus and enhance mental clarity.

After the calming and relaxing Yoga session we dived into Manoranjan- the Karaoke session for our emotional wellbeing. We all came together to sing and dance and enjoy music. The finale was a short group dance video we recorded on a very popular song from yester years!!

It was a very exciting and fun filled event on the whole.

WEW Celebrate 'HER" for Mother’s Day

Tue, 21 May 2024 21:21:21 GMT

submitted by Snehal Kadam

Pictures speak louder than words’ – here is a sneak peek to a beautiful evening celebrating Mother’s Day with ISW’s Women Empowering Women platform!!

Thank you to each and everyone of you who attended the event and made it a grand success! Your presence brought immense joy and warmth to the occasion, making it truly memorable!

A heartfelt appreciation to the entire WEW team for their tireless efforts in planning and executing an event of this scale!

ISWU Wonder of Laser Cutting and 3D printing

Sat, 18 May 2024 02:49:20 GMT

Shrihan Nair 5th grade at Sherwood Middle school

I enjoyed my experience with 3D printing because it was a great opportunity to meet new friends, learn something new, and have fun! One of my favorite parts of the class was the ability to create anything, from a gift to a car. Some of the projects I made included an Enderman, a Birthday gift for my mom, a car, and a bolt. The people helping out were very kind and helpful. Dhruv and Rohan, wonderful student helpers from Saint John's High School, taught me what to do while the print was running and how to remove the print from the plate. Bala uncle was also very kind and answered all my questions, sharing tips and tricks about 3D printing. Ashish uncle taught me everything about 3D printing and introduced me to Tinkercad, where I could design my own prints, and Thingiverse, a website where you can find items made by others to print.

Tanvi Yarasani: , I heard about 3D printing before but never knew how they do it, it was a great experience learning, to do and get hands-on experience. I never knew how things are printed but learning how to create and print something was a great experience. I want to learn and looking forward for next year and to learn about laser cutting. I want to thank all the teachers who helped me to learn this. Tanvi Yarasani.

Aarna Chug, 6th grader from Sherwood Middle School, truly enjoyed 3D and Laser printing classes. This was the first experience for her and she is thrilled. It was amazing for her to draw art on the computer and in a few minutes, she could touch and feel the drawn object. This class has expanded her creativity and exposed her to the art of possibilities. Thank you.

Pranav Cowlagi, Shrewsbury's youngest town meeting member.

Tue, 14 May 2024 21:12:52 GMT

We congratulate Pranav and are proud of this accomplishment. We hope that more youth are inspired to take an active interest in civic engagement !!

Pranav Cowlagi has been elected to become one of Shrewsbury's youngest town meeting members in the recently concluded town election. "My family, my school and volunteering with the India Society of Worcester (and IYG in particular) have always instilled the value of community service in me" says Pranav. " I am eager to get a closer understanding of the inner workings of our town government and advocate for issues that are important to me and my community."

A recent Indian Youth Group member, Pranav is pursuing majors in Environmental Science and Sustainable Business and Policy at UMass, Amherst.

ISW PEN insightful session with Asian Business Empowerment Council

Tue, 14 May 2024 00:12:04 GMT

---submitted by Kelly Mittal

ISW PEN in collaboration with Asian Business Empowerment Council hosted an incredibly insightful session with representatives from MA Supplier Diversity Office & Small Business Administration (SBA) presenting on minority certification and federal contracting. It was a huge success and drew participants from as far as NH, Boston, and Lowell. Federal government spends about $700 billion with vendors and more than 23% of it is intended for small businesses and women/minority owned enterprises. The comprehensive discussions and networking opportunities provided attendees with the tools and knowledge to expand their business understanding and leverage benefits of diversity certifications for growth.

ISW WEW hosted its flagship Mother’s Day event

Mon, 13 May 2024 21:14:41 GMT

ISW-Women Empowering Women – “Let’s Celebrate Her” May 10, 2024

Team: Snehalata Kadam, Neha Kaushal Mishra, Puja Harkut Rathi, Kajal Kaushik Dixit and Swara Gurav.

ISW- Women Empowering Women organized one of its flagships Mother’s Day celebratory events on May 10 th , 2024, at India Center. The event theme was to celebrate yourself royally with pearl elegance and lavender love. Over 150 ladies attended the event in vibrant lavender shades, dressed in confidence, The evening full of fun, laughter, and enjoyment!!! Every single attendee was involved in the team games with winning spirit. Many women came to the stage area to showcase their courage in impromptu dance moves. Some of them enjoyed Mother’s Day sale shopping for their near and dear ones. Some of them got involved in making reels with their friends. Most of the women were very much in the moment of taking solo pictures and group pictures to capture their memories to treasure for life. The three different categories of sponsors, one education, another fitness and the third financial literacy oriented one were a coessential part of the event. Special mention to the home décor, reuse beverage bottles and selfcare sponsors who made the winning even more attractive.

The event was a grand success with enormous amount of planning and hard work of six months by WEW team. The IYG volunteers Ayan Mishra, Prisha Rathi and Dhruv Jagan along with community volunteer Aadi Dixit were very helpful from registration to cleanup to photography. Special thank you to Sahith Madadi for capturing the memories for us through his photography, Ankush Rathi for his music management and Sharat Amin for traffic control support.

ISW Symphony Art Festival a vibrant visual arts community event!

Mon, 13 May 2024 21:05:08 GMT

submitted by Arathi Cowlagi

The ISW Symphony Art Festival was a one of a kind visual arts celebration for art enthusiasts of all ages put together by ISW Symphony team led by Sarita Deshpande & Neha Ujlayan.The event created a platform to bring together artists, artisans and art lovers from all across Massachusetts to showcase and appreciate the rich and varied art forms.

Some of the key features of the festival included:

- Art exhibitions - Featuring over 15+ talented local artists ranging from simple handmade bookmarks by a 84 year old to a 16 yr old modular origamist, attendees enjoyed a wide variety of art.

- Live demo, wheel throwing by Rachel Dubicki in partnership with the Worcester Center for Crafts

- Madhubani Art Workshop by well known local Madhubani artist, Sunanda Sahay

- A collaborative community art project to celebrate Mother’s Day and Spring

- Kids Art Contest-
Winners announced below-
Age group- 8-10 years
Aarna shekhar - 1st prize (age 10)
Naavya Raghavendra- 2nd prize (age 9)
Divija- 3rd prize (age 8)
Age group- 5-7 years
Reya- 1st prize(age 7)
Nyra- 2nd prize ( age 5)
Mrig- 3rd prize (age 7)

- Food & Craft Stalls

-Gift baskets sponsored by Arathi Cowlagi(KW Realty) and Vandana Pitke(Om Homeopathy)
Winners below-
Mishta
Riana Sukhija
Piya B

This event had an overwhelming response from the community filling the need for a vibrant visual arts community event!

Promo video link - Promo1

Promo2

Pictures and Videos by Govind Dindore and Yatin Manjrekar - Pictures

ISW Hasya Kavi Sammelan 2024

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 15:26:41 GMT

Submitted by Kirti Nagpal

The Hasya Kavi Sammelan was a resounding success.
It’s hard to describe in words how these talented poets were able to bring out such rib tickling humor with the play of words!!

We had the honor of having accomplished poets like Shambhu Shekhar ji , Arjun Gemini and Mumtaz Naseem grace our India center with their presence .
We witnessed Brilliance at its best .
I can say with confidence that the audience were totally enthralled by their witty humor . We all were laughing our heads off the entire time except when Mumtaz Naseem very eloquently described the political instability and turmoil with our neighboring country. It touched every one’s soul and heart ,evident by the fact that she received a standing ovation by the audience.Mumtaz Naseem is a poet whose words resonate with strength and resilience and beauty of human spirit.
Shri Shambhu Shekhar our other renowned poet for the evening is a luminary in the world of verse . His phenomenal and compelling satire has captivated audience worldwide.He is able to weave words like an artist ,painting emotions and stories with the brush of language .Shambhu ji is indeed a master of his art.
Then we had Arun Gemini whose name is synonymous with humor at the highest level. His words have the power to stir emotions and ignite the imagination.His unique style and humor is unparalleled .We almost fell off our seats as we were laughing so hard .He is able to craft moments of joy from the absurdities of life .
As someone has quoted beautifully “Always find a reason to laugh, it may not add years to your life but will surely add life to your years"
In those 3 hours of this event at India center we can all unanimously and undoubtedly agree that laughter reigned supreme. We got a good enough dose of laughter therapy
In the end I would like to acknowledge all the hard work and efforts of our organizers and our volunteers for bringing us such culturally rich and inspiring programs.

Poem recited by Nimish Kunte, ISW School Hindi 4 student

Eagle Scout Jash to plant Arbor Shrubs at India Center, May 2024

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 12:33:00 GMT

Hello All,

My name is Jash Kotadiya and I am a BoyScout from Troop 114 who is working towards achieving the Eagle Scout rank by July. My Eagle project proposal has been approved and I plan to plant Arbor shrubs behind the kids play area at the ISW in Shrewsbury. In order to complete my project, I am raising funds for all of the required materials and supplies. The estimated cost of the project is about $1,800. I hope that I can count on your support to raise funds for my Eagle Project and any donation would be greatly appreciated.

Please support my Eagle project by:

Making a check out to Troop 114, with a memo referencing Eagle Project Donation: Jash Kotadiya. It can be dropped off with Ruchi Chauhan during school times
Sending a online donation through Venmo to my mom: @snkotadiya with a note referencing Jash Kotadiya. The last four digits of the cell is 6151 (if needed) or zelle to snkotadiya@hotmail.com
Email jash.kotadiya375@gmail.com with any questions.

Thank you for all your help and support.

ISW Advisors: Ashish Cowlagi, Suchitra Shinde, Ruchi Chauhan, Shiamin Melville

ISW HASYA KAVI SAMMELAN

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 15:30:50 GMT

Grab your spot to laugh out loud!

ISW Hasya Kavi Sammelan

Tickets for Kavi Sammelan

$25 ISW Member early bird until day before
$30 non Member early bird until day before
$35 per ticket on day of the show and at the door
$50 VIP front row seats

Arun Gemini

https://youtube.com/shorts/_QSl8GnkEgA?si=0qA_BqHDIpfUZ5cH

https://youtu.be/NMesDWd5a84?si=Z90MMByp8vbMVbyE

Shambhu Shikhar

https://youtube.com/shorts/0c9ECJ6KDnI?si=RJGUz7UxL5ZhzHEp

https://youtube.com/shorts/4zledYooIVs?si=5PUU8BzGRcFh5QCs

Mumtaz Naseem

https://youtube.com/shorts/05Sy5syuWMw?si=WZy627g6kV1NcmtB

https://youtu.be/nIsvjF4Ir_Y?si=FVRgnOx-81Xn1VDH

ISW Humrahee presents Bollywood Bingo

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 10:07:21 GMT

Thanks to DJ Arun for introducing us to Bingo with a Bollywood twist!!! Very creative and innovative idea.The game had the usual numbers but each number was associated with a popular song that was played anytime the number was called out . It was a melodious Bingo The game also included some Bonus attraction—Narration of famous and iconic dialogues of Bollywood Legends Amitabh Bachchan and Gabbar Singh !!

It spiced up the whole game !!

Congratulations to people who won prizes at the game This creative Bingo with music and Masala is perfect for any occasion and get together !

This was followed by our Humrahee Dance performance it showcased the talent of all my Humrahee friends who danced to different Bollywood numbers spanning from the Dilip Kumar era to the current period of chammak chaloo.

It was great to see everyone bring in so much energy

and enthusiasm to the stage .

We also compiled a special Holi dance it was an impromptu performance led by Sandhya ji .

Finale was our popular Manoranjan - Karaoke session. It is becoming a popular platform for people who sing great to the ones like me who love to sing - it’s a no judgement zone and it allows people to be free and sing their hearts out !!

It was a great get together !!! Fun and excitement non stop. Thanks for all those who attended and urging people who couldn’t make it this time to try to attend our next program in April - it’s the Kavi Samelan

Daffodils will be out soon at NEBG, get free passes

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 18:27:34 GMT

Daffodils will be out soon at NEBG at Tower Hil, Boylston. Inside scoop from Cassie, they have started coming up, and should be in full bloom in two weeks, so book your free passes soon. ISW Members are encouraged to request free passes, details here for visits to New England Botanical Garden.

In recognition of Ashish Cowlagi's volunteer time on NEBG's Community Advisory Committee, ISW was issued complimentary organizational membership, and it has been reniewed for the third year, so do avail of the passes.

Also one of our ISW School Marathi teachers, Priya Vaidya, a fan of NEBG, was invited to join NEBG Mission Committee and bring her skills to help New England Botanical Garden.

As a FYI, ISW will partner again this year with NEBG for Night Lights on November 23 2024, and showcase our Cultural Heritage and celebrate DIwali with the broader community. Details to follow.

And did you know that there is a painting of Dr. E.K. Janaki Ammal (1897–1984) displayed at the garden as part of the exhibit on Celebrating Women Horticultural Heroes, March 1–30. She was a pioneer in her field in UK and Kerala.

ISW Vocal Ensemble group get together.

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:00:09 GMT

ISW Vocal Ensemble group get together.
submitted by Usha Yadav

Saturday evening families of our vocal ensemble group members (old and new) gathered to celebrate the end of the singing session and share their talents.There were 12 solo participation and two fun group performances.

Everyone had a great time showing their talents to the audience mostly the family members of the participants. It was a relaxing , entertaining evening combined with passion for singing.
The program concluded with the food / dinner, dj music and open dance floor for all.

ISW University and ISW PEN benefits of Heartfulness at work

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 22:25:34 GMT

--submitted by Ragoo, Co Chair ISW Pen

FB Live link

The ISW-University and PEN initiatives co-hosted a Heartfulness and Meditation session at the India Center this past Saturday, where we had panelists from the Heartfulness Research Institute, some of whom work full time at organizations like MIT, Amazon and other places. It was moderated by Devesh Srivastava (AI leader at Cisco) and a volunteer member of ISW who conducts weekly Meditation and Yoga sessions at the center during the weekends.

The panel of 6 introduced themselves and discussed topics that covered relaxation and meditation methods, provided some insights on the changes in the volatile job market, and shared few tools for stress management. There was also an interactive session led by Trevor Weltman and Devesh on incorporating Heartfulness and resilience in daily life for career growth. This was followed by a networking and interactive session with light snacks. The event was well attended by over 60 members in the audience.

Complete list of Panelists:

George Zogbi (Heartfulness Institute),
Mohanraja Kumar (Scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology),
Trevor Weltman (Partner at Clickable Impact Consulting Group)
Alexey Lef (Principal Engineer at Amazon)
Moderator: Devesh Srivastava (AI Leader at Cisco) & ISW Meditation & Yoga Facilitator at ISW on Saturday & Sunday.

ISWU & IIT Agne :How To Survive the ChatGPT Invasion - Strategies for Parents & Students Prof Loh

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 20:41:18 GMT

ISWU & IIT Agne How To Survive the ChatGPT Invasion - Strategies for Parents & Students

Link to full video March 16, 2024

Atharv Deshpande, 10th Grade, Shrewsbury High School, Shrewsbury, MA, and Registrar, ISW University, India Society of Worcester, Shrewsbury, MA 01545

ISW University and IIT - AGNE partnered together to organize an event to bring renowned Professor Po-Shen Loh to give a talk at ISW. Professor Loh teaches math at Carnegie Mellon University and gave this talk directed towards middle/high school students. The event started off with a brief introduction about ISW and our initiatives to inform those who had been to ISW for the first time. Ms. Durriya Doctor, the president of IIT - AGNE, then went on to explain how the event came to be in the first place. She then went on to briefly introduce Professor Loh to the audience. Prof. Loh is Singaporean as his parents were immigrants, but grew up in Madison Wisconsin. He has coached the U.S. math Olympiad team for the past 10 years and led them to 4 wins which had not happened since 1994. Professor Loh travels all around the world for different talks and events, in which he meets many notable people. He started getting into the talk about education broadly.

Prof. Loh went over a variety of topics to help parents and students succeed. Firstly, he went over how nowadays, kids have the “get a good exam score” and only learn what they need to and always think “will this be on the test.” They don’t have as much passion for learning different things, not even related to academics. He explains how being challenged and being curious will help the new generation’s problem-solving abilities and help them as a person. Companies look for employees who can deal with adversity and don’t always need “hints” or help. He connects these new thought processes to college as kids want to get into a good college for good credentials, then acquire a good job. What is not realized by many students and parents of students, is that universities “want a star, not a black hole.” This means they want a well-rounded person who also has a good personality. While you do need technical skills for college, it is not enough to get into prestigious colleges. Throughout the talk, Professor Loh shows different videos and images. He shows a form that teachers must fill out for a recommendation to schools, and it displays that they ask about many social skills and personal skills rather than academic achievements. Next, Professor Loh explains his initiative to try to make an impact on the younger community. First, he is in the process of making a free platform for middle schoolers to do math on. It is like Chess.com. He learned that in China, students were more competitive, while in the U.S. students would gladly share ideas with their peers. The website is sort of a game where you are with other students all around the world online, and you solve math problems. If someone does not get the answer or understands it, the student who does get it can help the other student understand through the chat. He is incentivizing kids to help each other, to create better students and wholesome people. If you help another student, you are rewarded “brain points.” He is making kids realize that helping others feels good, which in whole will help them make connections in the future and not be so competitive. His other initiative he shared was an online math tutoring class taught by high schoolers. It sets the format of a “twitch gaming stream” to keep the students on task and help them pay attention. This helps the high schoolers as they are helping others, while also gaining personality skills to make the class a bit more interesting.

Overall, this event was very successful, and the audience gained a lot from it. It ended with the audience being free to ask questions.

ISW Symphony Carnatic and Hindustani Classical music baithak

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 18:14:07 GMT

In partnership with LearnQuest, ISW Symphony hosted vocalist Aditya Shah and Veena artist Ram Naidu.

The program was part of what is now becoming an annual tradition - a pre-conference event leading up to one of the largest Indian Classical music festivals in the country - The LearnQuest Music Festival

At the program - LQ organizers announced that dues-paying ISW Members will be eligible for a 10% discount on the music conference ticket. Please watch for details.

ISW & Ekta Dance Academy back at the Celtics

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:42:56 GMT

Ekta Dance Academy in collaboration with ISW is performing at the Celtics game on March 18th 2024 Monday at TD Garden. 45 students will take the floor to show off the magic of Bollywood dance, choreographed by Ekta Jain. Practices are in full swing and we are all excited for the big day. We are hoping to be able to offer FB live from ISW FB page. Tune in before game starts at 7.30 pm It will not be televised on regular TV

Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons: Monday March 18 2024

Tickets at the box office start at $82

WEW An Artistic Reflection of Our Cultural Diaspora

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 18:12:29 GMT

By Swara Gurav.
On February 10th, 2024, an enchanting conversation with the most talented women in our community took place. Diving into one of the essential topics of our time, the event showcased a conversation between women leaders who are passionate about classical and Fusion dance. The esteemed panelists have devoted their lives to advancing and disseminating the rich cultural heritage embedded in this ancient art form to the global platform. The panelists all brought out their beautiful understanding of the art form, along with providing the audience with their experience of how they dedicated their lives to nurturing and showcasing this ancient art form. Embracing the true essence and passion they have about their respective dance forms, each panelist’s goal is to pass on this strength to generations and to preserve the heritage. Thank you to our outstanding panelists, Darshana ji, Kalai ji, Devika ji, Shridevi ji, and Jasmine Ji, for enlightening us with your knowledge of the artistic reflection of our cultural diaspora.

ISW PEN : Tax Seminar with Dr. Satya Mitra

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 16:19:30 GMT

by Ragoo Raghunathan

If you’ve seen a hall pack fast for a popular concert, the sight on this day at the India Center was no less. Over 150 people registered and showed up well before curtain time. Well, the event was our ISW-PEN program, the topic was Tax related and the speaker was The Guru Tax-fame Dr Satya Mitra himself, who also happens to be a best seller author of the book The 5 C’s, a book talking about tips to success for entrepreneurs and leaders.

This event was held on Saturday 17th Feb, 2024 as always at the India center at 11am. Dr Mitra started his presentation covering various topics including latest updates in tax laws, tax saving tips, how to report and deal with gifts and inheritance from abroad and tips for entrepreneurs and rental property owners. The topic was timely and the presentation was clear, concise and flawless. After the 45 min presentation Dr Mitra answered audience questions for around 1 hr as the audience kept asking question over question to the extent that the organizers Ragoo and Kelly (co-chairs of ISW-PEN) had to restrict each person to 2 questions.

Dr Mitra tirelessly answered all the questions while saying it gives him the greatest pleasure to answer questions from the audience. He also shared his business card and encouraged people to reach out with more questions. What started off as a one hour session happened to run for 2.5 hrs. This proved to be one of the best sessions we have had so far as part of ISW-PEN.

The event was live cast on the ISW Facebook page and can be seen for 30 day at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/ac6QLXbFXdYLbaXA

ISW Annual General Body Meeting 2024

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 19:01:44 GMT

ISW Annual General Body Meeting 2024

We held a successful ISW Annual General Body meeting on Feb 4th 2024. In addition to the President's and committee reports the new Nomination Committee for 2024-26 was unanimously elected. Also made few amendments to ISW bylaws by the governance committee.

Please check out the Annual report and updated bylaws here.

Welcome new Committee on Nominations

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 12:07:41 GMT

The India Society Executive Board is proud to welcome the following members for the Committee on Nominations. They were elected during the Annual General Body meeting on Feb 4 2024.

Term : Jan 2024 - Jan 2026.

Members:

Shaimin Melville
Sahdev Passey
Sarita Deshpande
Ragoo Raghunathan
Poonam Hingorany

The ISW EB would also like to thank the outgoing members of this committee for their stellar contributions to the society.

ISW Humrahee Monthly Meeting

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 04:24:25 GMT

Brain is the crown jewel of our body. Brain controls our motor and sensory functions, our behavior and intelligence, memory and emotions and so on and so forth. But as an inevitable part of aging, we start to experience slowing of brain functioning including cognitive impairment.

Every individual goes through this process at different pace with some feeling the effects sooner than others. There has been a vast majority of scientific.

research going on all across the globe trying to figure out ways on how to preserve the brain functioning and slow down the age-related decline in memory.

ISW Humrahee team had their monthly meeting on 27th January 2024. Mr. Jagan Srinivasan, professor at WPI conducted a seminar on how we can improve our memory and brain function with modern day tools and Ayurveda. With more than 2 decades of experience as professor, Mr. Srinivasan elaborated on different factors that affect our brain function and how everyday exercise and social interactions can improve physical mental and emotional wellbeing.

ISW performs at IAGB

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 02:42:59 GMT

ISW, recently participated in a Republic Day celebration organized by IAGB in Burlington. The performance was a vibrant showcase of the rich cultural heritage of Marathi Regional Cinema. The Symphony team of ISW took the stage and mesmerized the audience with their captivating performance of the traditional Marathi folk dance style, Lavani.

Dressed in exquisite Maharashtrian 9 yards sarees, the talented dancers gracefully spun and twirled to the rhythmic beats of the dholaki, perfectly synchronized with the enchanting song 'Chandra'. Their energetic and skillful movements brought the essence of Marathi folk culture to life, leaving the audience in awe.

Adding to the immersive experience, the music team of singers presented a live medley of folk songs from the popular Marathi movie 'Jait Re Jait'. Their soulful renditions were beautifully complemented by live dancing, which vividly portrayed the stories behind the songs. This unique combination of live singing and dancing created a fascinating atmosphere, drawing the hearts of all those in attendance.

The grand finale of the performance was marked by a spectacular Dhol Tasha Lezim display. More than 15 performers took the stage, showcasing two distinctive patterns, Wembley and Nagpur Dhol. The thunderous beats of the dhol, accompanied by the rhythmic movements of the performers, filled the auditorium with an electrifying energy. The audience couldn't help but join in, expressing their appreciation through whistles and hoots, further fueling the enthusiasm in the room.

Overall, ISW's participation in the Republic Day celebration was a testament to their dedication in promoting and preserving the cultural heritage. Through their charming performances, they successfully transported the audience into the vibrant world of Marathi folk traditions, leaving a lasting impression on all those fortunate enough to witness it.

Video Link - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17i4YiSLlylpILv0rVeQ74uw-yp1XWmX2?usp=drive_link

ISW Sports Games Night

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 04:17:09 GMT

What a fun way to spend an evening! ISW Sports Team had another successful game night event with 60 plus registrants at India Center on January 19^th. Participants with families enjoyed entertaining evening with games like table tennis, carrom, bridge and chess along with light snacks and tea.

ISW WEW - Celebrating 3 years of Women Empowering Women

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 03:59:13 GMT

India Society of Worcester has encouraged and given women a voice through the platform Women Empowering Women (WEW). WEW celebrated 3rd anniversary on January 13^th with Key Note Speaker Anu Chitrapu and Priya Asthana's student performances. Awards for December Walk & Run Competition were also distributed.

2023 Event Recap:

By Swara Gurao

In 2023, WEW had seven outstanding events motivating and inspiring other women within the community.

1. ISW WEW Turns Two Keynote speaker Dr. Manju Sheth

2. Mental Well-Being Discussion Panel: A Positive way to enlightening a healthy life Panelists: Dr. Kalyani Krishnan, Dr. Pooja Saraf and Dr. Ami Popat-Jain.

3. Selfless Community Service Event: Panelists:Shefali Kalyani Desai, Usha Verma, Nagasri Chakka and Sarita Deshpande

4. Rising Up the Professional Ladder: Panelists: Mrs. Anjali Arora, Mrs. Preeti Shah Tandon, Mrs. Anjali Paranjape and Dr. Poornima Tekumalla.

5. Lets Celebrate “HER”: Invited guests were Jaya Pandey, and Zharna Madan and 90s Indian Beatles singing performed by Mrs. Neha Maheshwari Rathi and Mrs. Padma Shenoy.

6. Next Generation Speaks, Life Beyond Academics: Moderated by Trishna Nikte, the panelists were: Ninad Vaidya, Karisma Lavana, Kiara Lavana, Aashi Gupta, and Dhruv Jagan.

ISW-WEW through its core values created a creative environment to encourage meaningful conversations, while inspiring and spreading confidence within the community. Read more on our website

Slate for the Committee on Nominations

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 13:37:57 GMT

The India Society Executive Board is proud to announce the slate for ISW's Committee on Nominations :

Term : Jan 2024 - Jan 2026.

Nominees :

Shaimin Melville
Sahdev Passey
Sarita Deshpande
Ragoo Raghunathan
Poonam Hingorany

Members of the ISW General Body will vote to confirm the slate during the next Annual General body meeting.

The ISW EB would also like to thank the outgoing members of this committee for their stellar contributions to the society.

IYG - Youth Empowering Youth - Preparing Ahead: A Roadmap to Land the Right College

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 02:35:12 GMT

by Dhruv Jagan

India Youth group (IYG) organized a new series called Youth Empowering Youth to engage middle and high schoolers in the community about different aspects of college applications.

The first event in this series took place on December 16th, 2023 at India Center. The panel discussion was entitled “ Preparing Ahead: A roadmap to land the right college”. The panel included five students at various stages in their collegiate career. Aryan Kale, Junior, Northeastern university, Anika Nath, Freshman, MIT, Swara Gurav, Freshman, Suffolk University, Dhriti Aiylam, Northeastern University and Arnav Mankad, Boston University shared their insights into the college application process.

Topics discussed by the panel ranged from SAT and ACT test-taking, strategies, requirements, and the importance of extracurriculars to land your top college. For example, they shared what they think is a reasonable time to start thinking about college, as well as how many clubs and activities that were offered at their school helped them decide their major.

Through these discussions, a general consensus arose: Start thinking about college during the beginning of your junior year, and try and experiment with many clubs at school to see which ones interest you. The panelists emphasized that doing something that is unique sets you apart from others. Additionally, how you display your dedication towards your courses and extracurricular activities will help you get a step closer to your dream college. In the Q&A session, both parents and kids got involved and learnt from the panelists tips and tricks to achieve admission into the college of your choice.

Another successful Dhol-Tasha-Lezhim Workshop

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 02:24:21 GMT

ISW Symphony's Dhol Tasha team conducted another successful Dhol-Tasha-Lezim Workshop "DTL Academy" on Friday.

Attendees included long-time ISW supporters, ISW school parents and net new members spanning ages 5 to seniors from diverse regions of India. The beats are truly bringing the community together!

Instructors: Smita Manjrekar, Yash Naik, Sanket Gurao, Rajesh Khare

Organizers: Sarita Deshpande, Sanket Gurao, Sakshi Gurao, Ashok Kale, and Rajesh Khare.

You can be the next ISW Volunteer star

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 01:33:54 GMT

Track your volunteer hours

Scroll down to see the 2022 PVSA winners

Thank you for your volunteer hours.

We hope to track the hours to recognize the amazing volunteers who contribute to India Society of Worcester

Try and fill it at the end of each quarter in 2023

Additionally, if you want, you can allow ISW to share your info to be considered for the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). The PVSA recognizes incredible individuals who are committed to a high level of volunteer and service with a PVSA medal and a letter from the White House.

To be eligible for President’s Volunteer Service Award, one has to be a US Citizen or permanent resident.

If volunteers have volunteered for other organizations that do not have this PVSA program, we can combine it , depending on verification, as long as there is no duplication.

Hours Required to Earn Awards in Each Age Group

Age Group Bronze Silver Gold

Kids (5–10 years old) 26–49 hours 50–74 hours 75+ hours

Teens (11–15) 50–74 hours 75–99 hours 100+ hours

Young Adults (16–25) 100–174 hours 175–249 hours 250+ hours

Adults (26+) 100–249 hours 250–499 hours 500+ hours

Teens (11- 15) Gold
Aadi Dixit
Aditi Jayendran
Arush Jagan
Dhruv Jagan
Mahati Jayendran
Pradnya Cowlagi
Tanushree Nekenti

Teen Bronze
Ayan Mishra

Young Adults (16 -25) Gold
Maurya Virmani
Anand Chintapalli

Young Adults Bronze
Prachet Mahawar

Adults
Priya Vaidya (Bronze)
Geetanjali Virmani (Silver)

ISW Humrahee Musical Evening a resounding success!

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 18:52:40 GMT

by Kirti Nagpal

The ISW Annual Musical event was an unforgettable evening of captivating performances and melodious music that left the audience mesmerized and spellbound. The event commenced with an open mike where our talented Golden singers Raju Alagawadi, Rajay Goyal and Trupti from Humrahee took the stage. They gave us some nostalgic soft music from yesteryears. The reins of our musical journey were then taken over by the star singers of the evening: Sarita Deshpande, Kaizad Patel and Vijay Parmar sans Manisha, as she unfortunately came down with laryngitis. All three of the singers were just exceptional. Kaizad Patel’s vocal control and phrasing and dynamics while singing Kishore Kumar songs was extraordinary!!!! Sarita Deshpande and Vijay Parmar have a way of making every song their own. They add a personal touch and make the song unique. They exhibited amazing musical camaraderie with their duets!!!!

The group’s medley performance was enchanting and captivating. The audience rose to their feet, clapping and cheering, fully immersed in the magical atmosphere that had been created. Overall, the ISW annual Musical event was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impression on all those who attended. Catch the action on ISW Facebook.

Manisha Parmar ,Vijay Parmar and Kaizad Patel are part of Boston Dhamaka. This group is comprised of talented Bollywood singers dedicated to delivering top-notch live performances that transport audiences to the heart of Bollywood. Check out Boston Dhamaka on Facebook

Moments of love!

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:40:00 GMT

प्यार के पल !

प्यार के दो चार पल
कितने सुंदर कितने निर्मल
प्यार के दो चार पल ।

डूब के सागर में कोई
जैसे मोती ढूँढ़ के लाए,
या फिर नभ के तारों में
जैसे कोई मुस्काए,
अंधकार में ज्योति दिए की
जैसे हो उज्जवल ,
प्यार के दो चार पल।

पावन यह रूप प्रकृति का
छू लेता मन अंतर,
दामन में खुशबू भर जाए
हर्षित हो मन अक्सर,
आजीवन बाँधे रहे हमें
यह स्नेह सूत्र कोमल,
प्यार के दो चार पल।

इन्द्र धनुष के रंगो जैसा
अद्भुत प्यारा वो नज़ारा,
मादक ,मधुर, प्रगाढ़ बनें
क्षण भर का साथ हमारा,
सदियाँ साथ गुज़रने का
एहसास रहे हर पल
प्यार के दो चार पल

कितने सुंदर कितने निर्मल
प्यार के दो चार पल !

Moments of love!

By Asha Singh

A few moments of love, be how beautiful and pure.

As if someone dives, search and find
precious pearls in the deep sea.
As if, someone smiles among the stars in the sky.
As if, those few moments of love get brightened with light.

As if, the pure form of nature
touches the soul,
the fragrance fills the heart,
Often makes one happy,
may this thread of love,
Keep us bound,
throughout the life,
Through those few moments of love.

As if the love be comparable
to the colors of
the rainbow,
And all the moments
of our company,
be intoxicating,
sweet, and intense.
Give the feeling as if,
we are together for centuries.

How beautiful, and how pure be those moments of love!

Killa Activity by the Students of ISW Cultural and Language School

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:29:23 GMT

by Rajesh Khare

In a world dominated by technology and screens, it's refreshing to see children engaging in hands-on activities that stimulate creativity, teamwork, and cultural awareness. The “Diwali Killa” activity at the Cultural and Language at School of the India Society of Worcester (ISW) has been a shining example of this. The tradition of building Diwali Killa is especially popular in Maharashtra, where it has been a cherished part of the festival for generations in honor of Shivaji Maharaj, the prominent Indian warrior king and the founder of the Maratha Empire in western India in the 17th century.

The term "killa" refers to a fort in Marathi, one of the prominent languages spoken in the Indian state of Maharashtra. These forts, with their formidable walls and strategic positioning, played a pivotal role in India's history. Every Diwali, the Killa activity is a way to introduce children to the rich cultural heritage of India, specifically through the lens of its historical architecture.

Participants in the Killa activity are given a set of basic materials including soil, bricks, water, recycled plastic etc.. Armed with these supplies and guided by their imaginations, the children set out to recreate the essence of a traditional Indian fort. The creativity and attention to detail exhibited by the young builders are truly remarkable.

Building a Killa requires teamwork and problem-solving skills. Children work together, assigning tasks, sharing ideas, and collaborating to bring their vision to life. This effort not only enhances their social skills but also fosters a sense of collaboration and mutual respect. Participants also learn about architectural principles, historical significance, and the engineering challenges faced by the builders of the actual forts.

By combining education with play, this initiative inspired by their cultural roots transcends borders, fosters a sense of unity, understanding, and pride among the participants. As an example of community-driven cultural enrichment, the Killa building activity stands as a testament to the positive impact that such initiatives can have on the lives of young individuals.

ISW Celebrates eighth year of Diwali at Worcester Art Museum

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 15:25:15 GMT

Diwali is the festival of lights. In India, it is also a festival of sharing the joyous spirit, celebrating with our friends and extended families. The India Society has been sharing the Diwali spirit with our wider greater Worcester community for the last 8 years with a unique Diwali celebration at the beautiful Worcester Art Museum.

This Sunday, the museum was buzzing with activity, welcoming a record crowd for this year’s Diwali at WAM.

Pictures on Facebook Here

India Society President Puneet Kohli and past president Barin Bando kicked off the ceremony with a traditional lighting of the lamp in the museum’s historic Renaissance court. This was followed by carefully curated cultural program from our leading dance and music schools that showcased the many classical and folk dances of India including Kathak, Kuchiudi, Baratanatyam and Odissi. The program also introduced the audience to Indian classical music performances in both the Hindustani and Carnatic styles.

“An abundance of energy, enough to charge the whole block, families and couples alike engage and delight in the show of our celebration!” said an enthusiastic visitor.

The finale was a procession of dhol, tasha and lejhim by ISW’s own team which left the audience clapping, dancing and wanting more.

There was of course a lot more activity inside all parts of the museum.

Children could enjoy many activities including about India at Carolyn Passey's elaborate interactive activity station, learning Chess with volunteers from ISW Sports team, making sand art rangolis, Madhubani art coasters, a giant Lego lantern and more. Many children and some adults with gleaming smiles proudly displayed their hands with intricate Henna tattoos.

A special thanks to Troy Thompson of Troy B Thompson photography and the founder of www.noevilproject.org who kindly captured and shared many memorable pictures of this event. Watch for more pictures from Troy here soon.

Indian artists Sushmita Bando, Sunanda Sahay, Madhu Thube, Neha Ujlayan and Rishi Gandhi showcased their original art in various forms for museum patrons.

Finally – the museum café, in partnership with Bawarchi of Framingham, served delectable Indian fare.

“ISW now has many Diwali programs, but this one is my personal favorite.” said event chair Arathi Cowlagi. “It allows us to showcase Indian art in all its glory and to bring the light of Diwali to our whole community! What a perfect way to start the holiday season!”

Dhol-Tasha-Lezim on Ice

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 23:03:02 GMT

Dhol-Tasha-Lezim on Ice
ISW Symphony at Worcester Railers

by Rajesh Khare

Thanks to ISW veteran Mr. Satya Mitra, the ISW Symphony Dhol-Tasha-Lezim team received a unique invitation to perform at the intermission of the Worcester Railers Ice Hockey game at DCU Center!

It was challenging for the team on multiple fronts. ISW Symphony organizers were short-staffed due to family situations and there was not much time for practice. This was going to be a new setting for the group and the audience was expected to be the broader community not familiar with Indian culture. The team was going to have to walk on ice with the instruments to reach the center and was given only 5 minutes to perform.

But the group members stepped up like never before! The Dhol-Tasha performers came up with a new compact sequence of beats that appealed to the crowd and showcased the Indian culture. They started with the “We will, we will, rock you” beat familiar to the sports crowd, evolved into the traditional Marathi Lezim beat, then played the classic Punjabi Dhol beats and ended with the thunderous signature beats of the Symphony team. The Lezim team had its own challenges. They had to come up with matching dance steps in a short timeframe and minimal practice sessions. And they did such a fabulous job that the Railers mascot also joined in with them!

Performance Team Roster:

Dhol: Abhijeet Kaulgud, Rajesh Khare, Ranjit Mulay, Atharva Kamble, Prasanna Pawar
Tasha: Arvind Kinhikar, Aditya Nene
Zanja: Sharat Amin
Tol: Sanket Gurao
Lezim: Anjali Kinhikar, Anuradha Bhogle, Sarita Deshpande, Madhu Thube, Arti Khare, Saanvi Khare
Abdagiri: Harsh Deshpande, Shaarav Khare

Team members in their own words:

Arvind Kinhikar:

Big thanks to ISW for creating this today’s unique opportunity and giving us this great platform “Symphony” to perform! We are blessed with excellent leadership team and awesome team members loving music! Enjoyed working with each team member! Superb Tasha by Aditya! Ranjit and Atharva brought a synchronized revolving dance while playing big dhol that to balancing on ice! great dance by Sharatji while playing Janz bringing huge energy, very synchronized rhythm dhol beats by Abhi, Ranjit, Rajesh, Atharva and Prasanna , very refreshing beats by Sanket who performed on a “Tol”…..and hats off to Lezim team (Anjali, Anu, Sarita, Madhu, Arti and Saanvi) who got ready on a very short notice. Saying here unique opportunity as we were pressure tested to perform in a shortest performance period of 4-5min against 20-30min that we typically perform! And to perform on ice!

Sharat Amin:

Loved it today with you all. Almost broke the ice in DCU center with our performance. It's a pleasure to be a part of this talented ISW Symphony team. Also welcome our new and young talented members. You all rock.

Ranjit Mulay:

This definitely was one of my favorite DTL experiences… thanks for the teamwork .. Arvind thanks for your guidance to get all the beats setup in the tight time frame… also want to thank our latest members Atharva and Aditya .. looking forward to learn more new beats from you both….

Prasanna Pawar:

So grateful to be part of Symphony DTL team. It was mesmerizing experience…

Abhijeet Kaulgud:

Tremendous experience. Thanks everyone as always

Aditya Nene:

Glad to be a part of symphony!

Sarita Deshpande:

Great teamwork by our Symphony DTL team!! It was fantastic experience to perform on the rink!!

Rajesh Khare:

What a wonderful experience for the Dhol-Tasha-Lezim team to represent ISW at the Worcester Railers game at DCU Center! Kudos to our fearless leaders Sanket Gurao, Arvind Kinhikar and Anjali Kinhikar and the entire team

ISW PEN ElevAsian First Asian Business Pitch Contest

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 22:11:01 GMT

On October 10th, ISW PEN had the opportunity to host the first ever Asian Business Pitch Contest in collaboration with ElevAsian at the India Center. The idea was to bring in early-stage entrepreneurs from near and far and pitch their ideas in 4 minutes, face questions for 4 minutes and convince the panel of judges. The Contest was set up in 2 tranches - New Business and Existing Businesses with 11 contestants in the first and 4 in the second category.

The audience packed the ISW India center with folks networking both before and after the pitch contest. Contestants with existing businesses or products had an opportunity to showcase their products or services in an exhibitor space during the evening.

Greg Stoller and Andrew Goldberg from ElevAsian did an excellent job of running the contest and moderating the Q&A sessions. The contestants ranged from 17-year-old high school students to adults putting their best foot forward. The quality of the pitches were remarkable and matched up with seasoned business professionals.

The final winners of the new business track were:

First Place $1000 prize: Julie Jain and Jai Khanna (1)
Second Place $750 prize: Pranav Ramaswamy (2)
Third Place $500 prize: Kashvi Vishal (3)
The Existing Business Track winner of the $750 prize was Pinaki Majhi
The Audience Favorite prize of $250 was split between Anjana Sudhir and Kashvi Vishal.

The judges for the event were:

Ms. Geetha Sreedhar, Founder Tarmika (acquired by Applied Systems) and TIE Boston Board Member
Mr. Sushil Tuli, Chairman, CEO & Founder Leader Bank; Director, Federal Reserve Bank, Boston
Mr. Subramaniam “A.V.” Aiylam, Founder and owner, Spyglass Brewing; Co-founder CenteredLogic, acquired by Enea in 2015.

The entire event was live cast on Facebook and those who could not attend can view it at these links:

Asian Business Pitch Contest Part 1.

Asian Business Pitch Contest Part 2.

After the event, Greg shared his sentiments with ISW. "I was very impressed how much pride there is in maintaining the Indian culture and how that sentiment was seamlessly integrated into so many different ideas that were presented. Finally, it was wonderful to see such a wide range of ages, and I truly wish everyone the best of luck with either existing businesses or their new ventures."

Andy, the founder of ElevAsian was also very appreciative of the teamwork he experienced with the ISW team "...sometimes I forgot that the ISW team have demanding full time jobs. There were plenty of days when I emailed a couple of dozen times and the ISW team responded to many of them immediately and all of them in a timely fashion. It was an absolute pleasure to work with Kelly, Ragoo, Raj, and Ashish. I felt like we had an engaged partner who was invested in producing a successful pitch contest as we were. The pitch contest felt like a family occasion. The pride and joy of the Asian community was evident throughout the evening".

We look forward to the possibility of making this a regular event at ISW that fosters multiple entrepreneurs in the Central Mass area.

ISW mini Diwali at Northboro Senior Center

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 21:31:12 GMT

UPDATE

Hosted by the India Society of Worcester, GFWC Northboro Junior Woman's Club, and the Northborough Senior Center, the fun activities was kicked off with Laughing Yoga, by Latha Radhakrishnan The attendees enjoyed by being draped in colorful sarees by Shaila Bhatia, and Latha, Rangoli art displayed by Neeta Karanjikar and Beena Krishnan, and a delightful dance by Sharada Cintakindi Dance troupe, residents of Northboro It ended with Sweets and Samosa from Kumars plus hot cider from Vickie at the Senior Center. Thakns to Linda DiMare for supporting diversity in the community

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7TH 4:30 PM AT THE NORTHBOROUGH SENIOR CENTER

Do come. This is one of our ISW mini Diwali celebration in the community. All are welcome, register at 508-393-5035

Hosted by the India Society of Worcester, GFWC Northboro Junior Woman's Club, and the Northborough Senior Center

How to Drape a Sari
Rangoli Art Demonstration
Dancing and Singing Presentation
Laughing Yoga
Light Refreshments

Thanks to Pravin Trivedi from Humrahee for starting this collaboration with Northborough Senior Center.

WEW Leadership: Rising Up the Professional Ladder

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:49:49 GMT

ISW-WEW held this event on Saturday, April 30th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.

The program began with welcoming the guests and a brief introduction about Women Empowering Women program’s mission and vision. The event was kicked off by our panelists introducing themselves, Mrs. Anjali

Arora, Mrs. Preeti Shah Tandon, Mrs. Anjali Paranjpe and Dr. Poornima Tekumalla to the audience and walking us through the career trajectory and the path they paved for themselves in corporate America, be it in the field of IT, Product Management, Finance or Science. It was fascinating and inspiring to hear about their career choices, and most of our panelists, uprooted themselves from well-established jobs and positions in India and started their journey in the US from the drawing board. Our event moderator, Snehalata Kadam, engaged our panelists by asking them about a time when they had to take some tough decisions while being in these senior positions, and our panelists had an array of answers, ranging from leaving workforce for a couple of months to reflect upon themselves to leaving their comfort zone of being in an organization for many years to taking some tough decisions in their personal lives or deciding between workload and picking up an MBA. While reflecting back on some of these decision points, our panelists had one consistent answer though – they all agreed that they made the right decision for themselves! A key aspect of this event was when the floor was opened to the hall full of audiences, that ranged from some teenagers, young professionals, parents and even grandparents. We had questions ranging from what is one soft skill you would say is necessary that we as women should learn, to a very interesting question to our women leaders on ‘what do you do for fun’?

If you missed out on the event, here is a link to watch the recording – ‘https://www.facebook.com/iswonline/videos/3575977052671859’

IYG Elects new Executive Committee

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:34:45 GMT

The India Youth Group ( IYG) is proud to announce our new executive

committee members. Congratulations to all the newly elected members.

President: Dhruv Jagan
Vice President: Tanvi Gahlot
Co-Secretaries: Anushka Singh, Arin Shinde
Project Manager: Sohan Hegde
Treasurer: Aadi Yadav
Co- Advisors: Shilpa Kulkarni, Usha Yadav

ISW Partners on Indian / Asian business Survey

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 12:30:09 GMT

India Society of Worcester is partnering with the Asian Business Empowerment Council (ABEC) to gather responses for a questionnaire from Massachusetts Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander AAPI)-owned businesses. The Asian Business Empowerment Council (ABEC) has launched its 2023 Massachusetts AAPI-Owned Businesses Survey. This questionnaire provides AAPI- owned businesses with a way to share opportunities and challenges, and provide recommendations on how to improve business conditions across the Commonwealth. The survey should take about 15-20 minutes to complete and will remain open unti December 11, 2023.

Please Click here to take the survey

Your responses will inform ABEC to help shape its programs and set its priorities for assisting AAPI-owned businesses over the next few years. So, please take the time to complete the survey so you can be counted, be heard and be supported! All identifying information, should you choose to share them, will remain confidential and will not be published.

We thank you for your time and participation.

ISW Celebrates 60 Years INE News article & interview

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 19:26:38 GMT

By India New England News -September 29, 2023

India Society of Worcester will be awarded the prestigious New England Choice Awards this year on Oct. 29, 2023, at Burlington Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA, INE MultiMedia, a non-profit organization that promotes art, culture, education and empowerment, announced on Monday. Read the announcement here

Promotional Video

About ISW - INE Writes :

With 2,500 Paid Members and an India Center Building Under its Belt, ISW Celebrates 60 Years

WORCESTER, MA–The India Society of Worcester, known as the ISW, is one of New England’s most vibrant Indian associations. It is primarily a cultural, social, educational, and charitable organization. Moreover, no Indian-American community organization has 2,500 paid members in New England, and probably in the entire country.

Also, ISW has built a 10,000-Square-foot India Center, a dream of most Indian community organizations in the United States. On Oct. 29, ISW will be honored with the Community Organization award at the annual New England Choice Awards gala at Burlington Marriott.

In an exclusive video interview with INDIA New England News, ISW President Puneet Kohli talks about ISW’s 60-year journey and what awaits during the next 60 years and beyond. To watch the full interview, please click here.

The ISW’s purpose is to encourage people with ancestral origin in India or people who are otherwise interested in India, to form an effective and cohesive group with the objective of retaining, facilitating, and fostering the cultural heritage of India; including ethnic arts, languages and religions of its people. The society adds to the richness of the cultural diversity of the region and is a window into the cultural heritage of India for the local community. The ISW is non-political and non-sectarian. It does not subscribe to any one religion and does not discriminate against any person because of his or her religious beliefs or ethnic background.

The ISW is run entirely by volunteers with patronage from its growing membership representing all regions of India. Since its establishment in 1963, the ISW has become a conduit of Indian culture for young Indians born in the U.S.A., as well as the local communities in the region. It is an outlet where the young and the old are able to showcase their cultural talents. The ISW also collaborates with other Indian organizations in the region and acts as an advocate for many global and community causes. The multidimensional nature of the ISW has drawn local city and state authorities, as well as businesses to the society. Today, the ISW is one of the most renowned organizations representing the Indian Community.

History

1963 – ISW was established

1987 : New constitution established and ISW started creating new programs by bringing renowned artists to the Worcester area.

1963 – 1991 – Initial days of ISW as the organization which was founded by Mr Shyam Sharma evolved into a vibrant organization which started thinking about a community center.

1991 : In November of 1991, ISW acquired a 5-acre lot with existing buildings in a prime location in Shrewsbury, near Worcester.

1992-2004 – Seeding our roots by buying a 5-acre lot in Shresbury in 1991 and starting to envision a community center. Which was built and inaugurated in 2004.

2004 – 2022 – Growing the community and beyond. As the Indian community grew in multiples so did the activities of ISW. We launched our ISW2020 vision which resulted in 10 key initiatives and finally getting to expanding our center.

“We kicked off ISW 2025 which focused on 4 new initiatives – ISWSymphony, ISWUniversity, ISWPen, ISW WeW – these are focused on arts and music, expanded learnings like 3D printing, robotics, SAT classes etc.,” says Mr. Kohli. “Entrepreneur and Professional network and Women Empowering Women. We have been running close to 80+ events each year for the past 2 years around all the activities and initiatives I mentioned above. The focus now is to grow th reach to larger metrowest areas and bring other community organizations along with us. We currently serve over 4,000 people through our newsletter.”

The organization has about 200 active volunteers.

Diwali Cultural 2023

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 01:33:03 GMT

ISW is celebrating its annual Diwali Cultural program.

Please save the date, November 18th, 2023

St. George Orthodox Cathedral, 30 Anna St. Worcester - MA

Durga Puja 2023

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 01:25:52 GMT

ISW Durga Puja 2023 Five days of celebrations

Scroll down and click on the PUJA you wish to attend

Since there are multiple days/events, a separate registration is requested for each day. It will help us in setting up. Thanks

Friday Puja October 20th, 2023 6 pm-9 pm
Doors are open for worshippers.
Devotional Songs by Raganjali School of Music and Mrs. Swati Panda.

Saturday Puja October 21st, 2023 12.30 pm-2 pm
Doors are open for worshippers

Saturday Berklee School of Music October 21st 2023 6 pm-9 pm
Evening aarti cultural program followed by dinner
Dinner contribution $15 per person

Sunday October 22nd, 2023 12.30 pm-2 pm
Doors are open for worshippers

Sunday Philomela Live October 22nd 2023 6 pm-9 pm
Evening aarti Cultural program followed by dinner
Dinner contribution $15 per person

Monday October 23rd, 2023 11.30 am- 2 pm
Doors are open for worshippers

Monday October 23rd, 2023 6 pm - 8 pm
Doors are open for worshippers

Tuesday Sindoor Khela October 24th, 2023 11.30 am- 2 pm
Sindoor Khela & Visarjan

Ganpati Special 3D printing & Idol Making Class

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 13:09:10 GMT

We held our Ganpati Special 3D printing classes last weekend.

Thanks to everyone who joined to build some special projects in time for Ganpati.. Special thanks to returning student Yajas who also doubled as a Assistant Teacher !

Also -Special shout out to our youngest student yet - Jay - Age 6!

We also conducted our annual Idol making workshop where budding artists of all ages built their own clay idols under the guidance of Shrikant and Sapna Savant.

Humrahee Meeting

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 12:52:03 GMT

On Saturday, September 26. At our Humrahi gathering. We had few new members join us. Since our Humrahi gathering news is spreading more and more people come to our gathering. Activity wise we had two rounds of part 1 line dancing and then we had two rounds of the 2nd part of line dancing. Our Humrahi group are dancing like professionals now on line dancing.with the able guidance of Mr. Narayan Sharma.

Then we had a short break for our Chai. Coffee and Nastha.

After break our D.J . Mr Narayan Sharma started karaoke singing event .We had about 10 singers sing. We had a variety of songs. From romantic, to emotional, to light classical to comedy songs. Mr Narayan Sharma manages the sequence in an orderly form.

Our next Humrahi gathering will be on October 26th

We won't be having our gathering in November and December due to Thanksgiving and Christmas. But we will have a gathering on Saturday December 2nd. The content of the program is a surprise. So keep this date free for yourself. Information will be sent soon on Humrahi group as soon as we formalize everything.

ISW Ganeshotsav 2023

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 01:31:33 GMT

ISW Ganeshotsav 2023 - recap

On Sunday September 24th ISW's, Shrewsbury Ganeshotsav Mandal (SGM) team celebrated Ganesh Festival with lots of enthusiasm and vigor, for the twelfth year in a row. Despite the inconvenience of weather conditions the team still executed the event as planned and with a lot of zeal and "जोश" as always.

This year's festival at ISW had many significant highlights. Prior to the event, a ganesh idol making workshop was held where almost 25 to 30 participants learnt and made ganesh idols from clay. The 3D model generated ganesh idol was made especially for the event day pooja by volunteers of the SGM team. The theme of the event for this year was Social Media. So in conjunction with the theme, the team had made a beautiful backdrop of various social media platforms and today's ways of communication in picture form. The pictures were digitally drawn taking inspiration from famous Marathi artist/cartoonist Mr. S. D. Phadnis. He is known for his captionless and colorful cartoons, which mainly featured on magazine covers. As kids back home in India, we all grew up appreciating and enjoying his creations. Hence this decoration was our tribute to this great Marathi artist.

The event started with Ganapati procession (miravnook) in the premises of ISW and was followed by pooja and sacred hymns chanting (aarti). This year's pooja was performed by the parents of Mr. Ashish Cowlagi (past president of ISW). Scrumptious prasad (autnethis maharastrain modak delicacy and shira) was served. Promptly the entertainment program based on the same social media theme started and the hall was filled with claps and foot tappings. Live dances, skits and songs intertwined with reels on screen, showcased today's life, where social media is prevalent in our day to day. The intertwining was important to highlight the balance we all need to achieve, a key message of the program.

The third highlight of the event was the Dhol-Tasha. The team played the instruments (specially ordered from India) in a procession with many others dancing and rejoicing to the rhythm. The air was filled with energy and a lot of enthusiasm like the festival back in India. From old generation to young kids everyone was enjoying the music and participated in the celebration fever whole heartedly.

All in all it was a very colorful celebration with pooja, prasad, entertainment program, decorations and food, in the grandeur of the newly renovated India Center. Everyone who attended the program enjoyed it thoroughly.

The event ended with a delicious authentic dinner of Shrikhand poori, batata wada among other dishes. Volunteers and the SGM team planned the event for months and its fruitful completion left everyone satisfied and content.

SGM team

We won again Fun Talent Show, Float & Parade 2023

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 00:54:40 GMT

Spirit of Shrewsbury Talent Show, Float & Parade Sept 23 & 24, 2023

Talent Show pictures

Float & Parade Pictures

Celebration for 60 years of completion of ISW’s participation at spirit of Shrewsbury happened on 24th of September . The new team of Youth, Adult and Dancers participated with Dhol Tasha and lezim . Their energy and enthusiasm was out of mark and they were unstoppable in the inclement weather. The high energy and Spirit of the team to prepare themselves in the short span of time to participate in the town parade was incredible. I want to thank from my heart to all the volunteers who showed up early in the rainy morning to put their hands on deck and make the float look presentable at the parade . I want to finish by saying outstanding team work.
Thank You Anupama Deb Roy

‘We’re here rain or shine’: Spirit of Shrewsbury Parade marches on By Evan Walsh -September 24, 2023 Community Advocate

Consistent rain couldn’t stop the Spirit of Shrewsbury Parade on Sunday afternoon. Crowds of rain-soaked individuals from over 25 local organizations marched through the center of Shrewsbury. Despite the downpours, hearty townsfolk lined the streets to show their support.

This year, the India Society of Worcester designed the first-place float. The float included balloons to celebrate the society’s 60th anniversary, as well as miniature models of the organization’s new and old buildings.

“The cardboard – it’s all eco-friendly. I used cardboard, tape, no plastic. I made it part by part, it took me – to complete both the models – about three weeks. I built it, I painted it, and then I did the small doors,” said Anupama Debroy, who was instrumental in the float’s creation.

The India Society of Worcester’s float was at the front of the parade; the group danced and played music for the entire 1.1-mile parade route – all in the pouring rain. “I’m excited. Everyone is so enthusiastic – it’s raining, but everyone is dancing, everyone is doing their work. Everybody here is working hard to make it possible,” Debroy said.

Other local organizations made appearances, including Central One Federal Credit Union, Clinton Savings Bank, several Girl Scout troops, youth lacrosse organizations, and Saint John’s High School, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary.

The parade also featured local figures like Spirit of Shrewsbury Grand Marshal Missy Hollenback. Hollenback – per her request – drove in an electric vehicle throughout the parade.

The Shrewsbury High School Band also joined in the fun. With rain being blown in their faces, band members valiantly marched forward, playing upbeat music to energize the crowd.

“It’s really important [to be here]. The community is a big part of our program, and we feel like our participation plays an important role in the community’s events. We’re here rain or shine and we’re happy to be doing so,” said Band Director Caryn Wardwell.

ISW Garba TICKETS on sale for October 13 Oct

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 23:31:45 GMT

ISW Garba is back October 13 & 14

OCTOBER 13, 7 PM ISW Garba JHANKAR LIVE SINGING

OCTOBER 14, 7 PM ISW Garba Dhamaka with DJ Sidd

VENUE : ST GEORGE ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL,
30 ANNA ST, WORCESTER , MA
Become a ISW member

Tickets for Family & Life Members : $10 per person, per day
No combination tickets or early bird tickets
only one time login is allowed for tickets, so buy your group ticket in one purchase, multiple logins with same email ids will not be allowed by system
max 10 tickets per member, become a ISW member
Will stop member sales at noon on day of event
Non-payment within 15 mins will automatically cancel registration
Non-members/ At the door : $20
Please buy ticket for children 5 and over, and adults
Children under 5 are free
Dandiyas for purchase in cash $5 to $10
Food, Jewelry/clothing & Diwali item vendors on site

Spirit of Shewsbury Talent Show & parade Sept 23 & 24, 2023

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:27:28 GMT

Shrewsbury's Got Talent September 23rd, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Oak Middle School, Shrewsbury

Once again, ISW will be hosting the annual Shrewsbury's Got Talent competition as part of the Spirit of Shrewsbury festivities. Sign up to perform by September 20th.

On Sunday Sep 24th, on Municipal Ave. Parade starts at 1pm

ISW Symphony Dhol-Tasha-Lezim participating in Spirit of Shewsbury parade

CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN ISW Symphony Dhol-Tasha-Lezim participating in Applefest, Northboro,September 10, Sunday 2 pm

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:54:01 GMT

CANCELLED due to RAIN

ISW Symphony Dhol-Tasha-Lezim participating in Northboro Applefest parade September 10, Sunday 2 pm

The Northborough Applefest is an annual event that takes place in Northborough, Massachusetts. It typically features a variety of activities, entertainment, food vendors, and a parade.

ISW Symphony Dhol Tasha Lezim will be participating in the parade this year! This promises to add a lively and cultural element to the festivities. Please join us at the event to enjoy the spectacular performance and cheer the ISW team!

Please see details at http://www.northboroughapplefest.com/

ISW Krishna Janmashtami CLOSED, at capacity

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:52:06 GMT

ISW Krishna Janmashtami is at capacity, CLOSED. If you registered prior to 8-20-2023, and are unable to come, please let ISW know. so others can join.

11 am to 3.00 PM EST Sunday
Prayers & Aarti
Dahi Haandi
Kids Fashion Show (prizes for best Krishna & Radha)
Lunch Prashad

All welcome
Sponsors: Suresh and Meera Gupta
For RSVP and any questions contact
geetanjali.virmani@gmail.com. Chair, ISW Religious Committee

Humrahee meeting with line dancing and Karaoke

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 16:16:09 GMT

by Kirti Nagpal

Synopsis Humrahi Program 8/26/23

It was a great turnout at the Humrahi program today . We started the day with line dancing . Mr Narayan Sharma who wears many different hats was the dance teacher today . He taught us this elegant dance in very simple and easy to understand steps. Once everyone got the rhythm in place ,they all were dancing like a pro in no time. Cupid shuffle is the ideal song to enjoy line dance.

Then came our Manoranjan Karoake program. It’s one of the best elements of Humrahi where we get to listen to beautiful songs through karaoke.The audience is also actively participating and singing along.I would though like to mention our 2 members Trupti ji and Pushpa ji who are amazing singers. We were left spell bound when Pushpa ji sang a Ghulam Ali ghazal rendition and Trupti ji sang “lag ja Gale ”.

Thanks again to everyone who came and enjoyed the program.

India Society of Worcester Extends Warm Congratulations on Chandrayaan-3's Lunar Landing

Sat, 26 Aug 2023 12:31:10 GMT

by Rajesh Khare

The India Society of Worcester (ISW) joins the world in celebrating the remarkable success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission's lunar landing. The ISW, a prominent cultural and social organization representing the Indian community in Worcester, extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the entire team behind this monumental achievement.

Chandrayaan-3's successful landing on the lunar surface marks a proud moment not only for India but also for the global Indian diaspora. The mission's resounding success demonstrates the exceptional talent, dedication, and scientific prowess of Indian scientists, engineers, and researchers.

The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 is a source of immense pride for all of us in Worcester and beyond. This achievement serves as a testament to India's capability to excel in cutting-edge scientific endeavors. Our hearts swell with pride as we witness the legacy of Indian innovation and determination continue to reach new heights.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission holds a special place in the hearts of many Indians residing in Worcester and the surrounding regions. The mission's focus on lunar exploration and discovery aligns with the spirit of curiosity and exploration that the Indian community holds dear.

Chandrayaan-3's journey to the Moon and its triumphant landing have captured the imagination of people from all walks of life, igniting a renewed sense of wonder and curiosity about the cosmos. As the lander and rover begin their scientific investigations on the lunar surface, the ISW eagerly anticipates the knowledge and insights that will emerge from this mission.

The success of Chandrayaan-3 is a continuation of India's storied history in space exploration, following in the footsteps of previous missions like Chandrayaan-1 and the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan). These accomplishments serve as an inspiration to the younger generations, encouraging them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

As the India Society of Worcester joins hands with the global community in applauding Chandrayaan-3's success, it also looks forward to the mission's future discoveries and contributions to humanity's understanding of the Moon and its mysteries. The mission's success symbolizes the unyielding spirit of innovation and perseverance that is emblematic of India's journey through the cosmos.

Rajesh Khare is a member of the India Society of Worcester's Executive Board.

Race to Mars

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 12:35:45 GMT

by Juhie Jain

In an era where technological advancements continue to reshape the boundaries of human exploration, the race to Mars stands as a feasible idea, brimming with potential and offering a compelling return on investment. As the red planet beckons, scientists, engineers, and visionaries alike are united in their pursuit of making this interplanetary journey a reality. This collective effort represents not just a bold endeavor, but a prudent investment of time and resources that could yield substantial benefits for humanity.

Scientific Discovery and Understanding

Mars, our neighboring planet, presents a tantalizing opportunity to unlock the secrets of our universe. Its unique geological features and potential evidence of past water flows offer a window into Mars' history and the potential for extraterrestrial life. By exploring Mars' surface, scientists could gain insights into the planet's climate, geology, and even its potential to sustain human life. Such discoveries could reshape our understanding of planetary evolution, leading to breakthroughs in fields ranging from geology to astrobiology.

Technological Innovation

The pursuit of Mars has historically driven remarkable technological advances, with ripple effects felt across various industries. Developing the means to land, sustain, and return from Mars demands cutting-edge engineering and innovative problem-solving. As history has shown, many technologies initially developed for space exploration have found applications on Earth, improving everyday life. The race to Mars could thus stimulate a wave of technological innovation, creating new opportunities and industries that could fuel economic growth.

Inspiring the Next Generation

The race to Mars captures the imagination of people young and old, inspiring a new generation of scientists, engineers, and dreamers. As humans venture beyond our home planet, they become role models and symbols of what humanity can achieve through determination, collaboration, and innovation. This inspiration can catalyze an increased interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, cultivating a workforce capable of tackling the challenges of the future.

Mitigating Planetary Risk

As humanity's reach extends to other celestial bodies, the prospect of establishing a human presence on Mars also serves as an essential step toward mitigating planetary risk. By diversifying our species across multiple planets, we safeguard against potential extinction-level events that could threaten life on Earth. The colonization of Mars could serve as a lifeboat, ensuring the long-term survival of humanity and preserving our collective knowledge and culture.

Global Collaboration

The race to Mars fosters international cooperation, transcending borders and uniting nations in a common endeavor. Collaborative efforts in space exploration have a proven track record, fostering diplomacy and understanding among diverse nations. By pooling resources and expertise, the race to Mars could facilitate not only groundbreaking scientific discoveries but also a more harmonious global community.

In conclusion, the race to Mars is not just a fanciful pursuit but a pragmatic and promising venture. It offers the potential for scientific discovery, technological innovation, and global collaboration on an unprecedented scale. While the challenges are undeniably formidable, the rewards are equally monumental. As we set our sights on the red planet, we embark on a journey that could reshape our understanding of the cosmos, drive innovation, inspire generations, and ensure the long-term survival of humanity. The race to Mars is not merely a race against time and money; it is an investment in our future as a species.

Juhie Jain is a high school student in Westboro.

INDIA DAY 2023 at DCU Incredible celebration of 60 Incredible years

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 20:52:42 GMT

ISW India Day 2023 August 5th, 2023

2023 Brochure for a complete listing of sponsors, and programs

Survey: we would love to hear back from you

Link to live video on FB

Link to Videos

Link to volunteer Johanny Pineyro Productions Photos

Link to Photos

Submitted by Balki Chandrakasan , Chair 2023

Highlights:

Successful celebration of India's rich culture and heritage.
Commemoration of ISW's 60th-year anniversary, adding a special milestone to the event.
Significance of celebrating India's Independence Day highlighted.
Generous support from EClinical, Trigent, UniBank, DCU, Polyset, Muneeza and WebsterFive
A diverse and engaging cultural program lasting for 6 hours.
A total of 42 vendors offering a variety of products and services, including non-profit organizations.
A remarkable attendance of 3500 people who visited the event.
Special guests included Joe Petty, Worcester Mayor, and Tim Murray, former Lieutenant Governor, who attended the event.
Scholarship awards presented to deserving students, investing in the future.
Community service award bestowed upon IAGB, recognizing their impactful contributions.
Recognition and honoring of ISW founders, acknowledging their vision and dedication.
A free health stop and sports room were featured, engaging many attendees.
The IYG room offered favorite popcorn and cotton candy treats.
An art fair showcased an array of captivating artworks.

Cultural Programs: The event featured a dynamic and vibrant cultural program that showcased various aspects of Indian culture, including:

Traditional dance performances representing different Indian states and styles.
Musical performances featuring traditional and contemporary Indian music.
Display of traditional Indian art forms, such as rangoli and henna.
Cultural displays highlighting India's history, diversity, and contributions.
Delicious Indian cuisine, offering a culinary journey through different regions.

Vendor Participation: The event hosted 42 vendors, including a mix of for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations. These vendors provided attendees with an opportunity to explore and purchase a wide range of products and services, including traditional clothing, jewelry, handicrafts, artwork, spices, and more. The inclusion of non-profit vendors offered attendees the chance to support meaningful causes and learn about community initiatives.

Art Fair: The art fair was a visual treat, featuring a diverse collection of captivating artworks. Attendees had the opportunity to admire and appreciate a wide range of artistic styles and mediums, adding to the cultural richness of the event.

Free Health Stop: Attendees had access to a free health stop, providing health-related information, screenings, and resources. This initiative aimed to promote wellness and raise awareness about important health topics.

Sports Room: The sports room provided a space for attendees to engage in various sports such as chess , Carom and card games

IYG Room (Popcorn and Cotton Candy): The IYG room was a favorite among many attendees, offering delicious popcorn and cotton candy treats. This delightful addition added a touch of nostalgia and enjoyment to the event.

Attendance: The ISW India Day 2023 celebration was well-attended, with approximately 3500 people visiting the event. This demonstrates the community's strong interest in Indian culture and their eagerness to engage in cultural celebrations.

Distinguished Guests:Notably, the event was graced by the presence of Joe Petty, Worcester Mayor, and Tim Murray, former Lieutenant Governor. They participated in the celebration and read the proclamation declaring August 5th as India Day.

Overall, the ISW India Day 2023 celebration was a resounding success, fostering cultural exchange, promoting understanding, and creating a memorable experience for all attendees. The diverse offerings, including the engaging art fair, further enriched the event, providing an opportunity for attendees to immerse themselves in the beauty of various artistic expressions. Such events play a crucial role in celebrating diversity and strengthening community bonds.

Balki Chandrakasan
India Day-Chair

Feedback from Bobkat (Balloon vendor).
My wife Kathy and I wanted to let you know what a wonderful day we had during India Day for the India Society of Worcester. The Indian community in around the Worcester area has long been a rewarding source of employment for us. We saw India Day as an opportunity to give back and to share what we do with a broader number of people. While I performed a little magic for visitors to our table, my wife was delighted to create over 250 free balloon animals for them and their children. Another blessing was the large number of grateful past clients who visited and reconnected that afternoon.

Dhol-Tasha-Lezim and Chenda Melam Collaborate for India Day Celebration

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 21:28:01 GMT

by Rajesh Khare

The upcoming ISW India Day 2023 promises to be a momentous occasion, as it brings together the fusion of Dhol-Tasha-Lezim and Chenda Melam for the first time on its grand stage. With eager anticipation, performers and spectators alike await this groundbreaking collaboration that celebrates the rich cultural tapestry of India. As the rhythmic powerhouses of Maharashtra and Kerala unite, a sense of excitement fills the air, knowing that this fusion will create a unique and unforgettable musical experience.

As the performance unfolds, the thunderous beats of the Dhol and Tasha resonate with the vibrant energy of the Lezim dancers, who gracefully swirl and twirl their colorful instruments. The Chenda players take center stage, infusing the air with the divine resonance of this traditional Kerala percussion instrument. The fusion weaves a captivating tale of rhythm and melody, transcending boundaries and forging a profound connection among diverse Indian traditions.

This fusion of Dhol-Tasha-Lezim and Chenda Melam not only showcases the artistry of the performers but also serves as a powerful symbol of unity and cultural harmony. It celebrates the diversity of India's musical heritage, fostering an appreciation for the country's rich traditions and the shared passion for music that unites people from different regions.

As the performance reaches its crescendo, the audience will be immersed in a mesmerizing symphony, witnessing a historic moment that will be etched in their memories forever. The applause and admiration that follows will reaffirm the success of this fusion, leaving everyone inspired and uplifted by the magical fusion of cultures, rhythms, and melodies.

ISW India Day 2023 will be remembered as a milestone event, where the fusion of Dhol-Tasha-Lezim and Chenda Melam took center stage, showcasing the power of music to unite, inspire, and celebrate the rich heritage of India. It is a testament to the beauty of diversity and the universal language of rhythm and melody, leaving a lasting impression on all who have the privilege of witnessing this extraordinary musical collaboration.

ISW University in partnership with IIT Agne held 3D Printing summer session.

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 00:06:38 GMT

ISW University in partnership with IIT Agne held 5 sessions of 3D Printing Workshop for Grade 1 +, advanced, plus adults and beginners It had 3 concurrent sessions:

Beginner : Grade 1 + focused s on 3D Printing Basics, the Intermediate : focused on building 3D models and quality of prints and the Advanced for Automata or other moving 3D parts. It was open to Grades 1 and higher, no previous requisites and Parents were welcome to hangout too

Led by Ashish Cowlagi, he inspired young and old to explore the intricate workings of 3D Printing

Next session will be held in Fall 2023

Incredible pictures

A Life That Cannot Be Lived

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 23:52:11 GMT

A Life That Cannot Be Lived
By Shreya Nippani, June 2, 2023

It fills me with great sorrow, to see others in strife
But in the end, it’s all a part of life
Look to everyone, care for everyone
Until I’m done
Curse my naivety, as it is not only known to me, but by all the world
My nature has me blindsighted, inevitably blurred
In return for aiding, I get backstabbing
In return for kind consent, I receive abandonment
To help is to hurt, and to care for is to curse
Friends are to enemies, as life is to death
On the contrary, what if this situation has arisen due to me?
Have I deceived myself and shown nothing but covert glee?
The mirror lies in front of me, but alas, I cannot see
As sight is to blind, but truly there isn’t a soul behind
The world is cruel, so people say; thou shall challenge me to a duel
Back and forth, our swords will sway, each time I lose a day
The soul may be eternal, but whereas that is a lie, for harming and hurting will surely make it die
A raven perched upon my opponent and to their dismay, down to Plutonian they withered away
It leaves me with questions, does good always triumph over evil?
Considering I’m still standing, is that even legal?
For a wretched person like me shall never be victorious, or so I think
My insecurities stand between me and my destiny in just a blink
They showed me my worth, they stood right before
And little did I know, there was something more
I am what I truly want to be
No one can define me or try me
Like a soaring bird, I’ll raise my wings
Before my eyes, my true song sings
“Let go of the branch” says a voice inside
“For if you let go you will find”
“A place that has your true destiny”
And that my friends is me.

Perfectly Imperfect

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 23:37:35 GMT

Perfectly Imperfect
By Shreya Nippani, Grade 7 (May 31, 2023)

One can be proficient in many things. A teacher who instructs, a pianist who plays. An artist that paints, a celebrity that sings. A leader who leads, and a dancer who performs. All I do is mourn. I am nothing but a rusted old pearl that needs shining.

Just perfectly imperfect, all I need is trying

Ode to joy is a mantra of life, or so they say. Elixir is a necessity to get through my day. The waves rent and crash and soar at my bidding. Unless I try my hope is dwindling. Days turn to months, months into years. Try to avoid it but the pain sears.

Just my perfectly imperfect life, I try to say goodbye

But alas, throughout my struggle and strife, I sought a tunnel out of the night. Hope is like the torch towards love. A symbolic countenance in the shape of a dove. “Your triumph will not last” says the ominous betrayal voice inside. “For courage and hope inside are all a lie”. Feeling weakened and unable to persevere on, the last of my hope withers away into the abyss, all gone.

Perfectly imperfect, now reality has seeped through

“Halt, stop, pause” echoed yet again. “You are capable of more than you can”. Flustered and confused, I had the courage to carry on. All that was lost is now not gone. Tranquility, peace surrounds me, and the weight of pressure alleviates me. Exhilarated and joyful the world truly is, how could I be so foolish to let it miss.

Perfectly imperfect, now I see, my life truly is free

Humrahee June 24th event recap

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 23:27:59 GMT

By Kirti Nagpal

I would like to thank all my Humrahee friends who attended the program on June 24th. We won’t be able to do any of these events without your involvement and participation.

Humrahee program started with a calming peaceful meditative Reiki session lead by Priyanka and Parag Morre. The couple is actively trying to promote a healthier life style by bringing our attention to body, mind and soul .Parag is an entrepreneur who has embarked on a journey of bringing Satvik and healthier dairy products to the community worldwide . His A2 certified products have higher nutrition and are replete with probiotics which are essential for our body. Learned Ayurvedic Practitioner Dr Sanduja joined in live through Zoom and shared some insight into Satvik foods and how A2 ghee helps nourish the body. He was also kind enough to answer our questions and queries related to the Ghee intake as it is mainly a saturated fat.

This was followed by an enthralling and mesmerizing dance performance by Ms Pooja Tiwari who is a trained Kathak Dancer. She is a science teacher by profession and teaches biology and physics to high School kids. After her dance performances she gave us a quick tutorial and danced with us on some peppy Bollywood songs.

The whole dance session gave us a good workout.

We then got to the most awaited part of our program, the Karaoke session. We all enjoy our Humrahi friends getting up there and singing with so much passion and energy. Thanks to everyone who participated. We are all very grateful to be in company of such lively and delightful members of our community. ❤️❤️

ISW International Yoga Day Recap

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 23:20:56 GMT

By Usha Yadav

Pictures link

On June 21st ISW celebrated 10th International Yoga Day workshop. This day also coincides with summer solstice -the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Community members came together at the ISW center to enjoy yoga outdoors on a perfect Thursday evening.

The workshop began with a series of yoga poses, sun salutation and an introduction to varieties of breathing techniques. Narendra ji our yoga instructor demonstrated and explained about the Jal-Nethi technique. He explained how practicing jal-nethi helps people with allergies as these techniques help cleanse the nostrils and daily practice helps prevent colds/allergies in kids and adults. He ended the session with teaching some meditation techniques and ‘Om’ chanting.

Thanks to all the adults and kids, who participated in this workshop.

College Planning Recap

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 22:06:08 GMT

By Ragoo Raghunathan

You may call this the best/most attended event of our ISW-PEN initiative since we started with over 180 registrants and 150+ attendees at the event that was organized and co-hosted by the ISW PEN and ISW-University initiatives on June 10th at the India Center in Shrewsbury.

The panel consisted of Jillian Greenspan (School Counselor at WHS), Jennifer Cluett (Dean of Admissions at WPI), Divya Raghunathan (College Junior, UMass), Raj Kasbekar (Parent of college Freshman) and moderated by Ashish Cowlagi (Ex-President, ISW and parent of college Freshman).

It started off with introductions of each speaker followed by very well crafted questions by the moderator around several topics including When to start the process, How to start the process, How to find a college that fits, and How to get in with discussions around Academics, Extracurriculars and College Essays.

The panelists shared their experiences and opinions about the entire process and several questions from the audience led to further discussions. The session ended at 1.30pm but the audience continued the conversations with the panelists well after the main discussion.

Overall, the event was very successful and there have been requests to hold another session in a few months for people who couldn't make it or get some additional questions answered this time around. To compile any unanswered questions, a survey was sent after the event. Click here if you attended and would like to add your input.

You can watch the recorded version of the live event here https://fb.watch/lgdC8JQQz8/

Please feel free to join the ISW PEN WhatsApp group for future notifications and to help plan such events in the future at: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FCugdnQFmTQ5mYygCf8hQR

Symphony Dhol Tasha at Northboro cultural fest

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 12:39:42 GMT

On the 10th of June 2023, on the stage of Northborough Town Center, ISW Symphony performed a mesmerizing performance amid rain and shine.

Music has no boundaries, no language barrier. Music is also a bridge between cultural heritages and different backgrounds. It was evident when Symphony Group began playing Indian folk music with Dhol, Tasha, and Jhanz. It brought the whole audience group on their feet dancing to the tunes. The highlight of the performance was the Greek dancers performing spontaneously on Dhola & Tasha beats in Greek fashion and then slowly transitioning into Indian folk dance steps in Greek uniform.

Northborough Cultural Council did a great job organizing this event and the team worked extremely hard to keep the stage dry and also set up gazebo when rain obstructed the performances. Symphony DTL team added a couple of new players into Dhol and Tasha including one toddler. Music goes into our heart and soul and instantly fuels life in us. No wonder why everyone in the audience started to make moves on the music with added energy.

Dhol-Tasha, a combination of percussion instruments, has been integral part of Maharashtra State. But, now spreading it globally to entertain worldwide and bringing different cultures together to spread the joy.

article by Ashok Kale

“Sari, Not Sorry”

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 01:48:29 GMT

by Trishna Nikte

Trishna Nikte is a rising senior and a captain of the SHS Speech team. Her delivery of this Original Oratory piece won her a Octafinalist position at the NCFL National Finals amongst thousands of students across the country. - Ed.

Ok, be honest. What do you guys think of the suit?? I wasn’t really sure about it at first, but my mom liked it; and as I’m sure many of us know, moms can never be wrong.

Now imagine if I walked into this room today in a sari, a piece of traditional Indian clothing. I’d borrow one from my mom, one of her nicest ones, the kind she’d wear to work when she lived in India. Would I be singled out as “that weird girl who wore a sari to a speech tournament”? Would I be taken as seriously? Would I still fit in? Or I actually don’t know how that would go, but honestly, I’m afraid to try. As much as I would love to display a piece of my culture in front of all of you and be unique, I’m afraid of feeling different from everyone else.

Most children in this country, regardless of their background, have felt the need to hide some piece of their identity at some point in their schooling career. This need can plague adolescent minds, especially those of children who don’t fit into the mold of a typical straight, white, cisgender child. Today, let’s try to understand why it's so easy for children with all different backgrounds to forgo pieces of their identities in school. Next, let’s look into the negative effects this can have, and finally, we’ll try to understand some ways we can narrow down the reach of this pressing issue.

Now I’ve learned from a very young age that it’s better to conform to the culture I see around me, than try to be different. In first grade, on picture day, I wore my prettiest Indian outfit to school. It was a bejeweled black blouse with a gorgeous red skirt under. I walked into school feeling so confident that day, like I’d never looked any better. But the second I walked into class, the stares I got, the whispers I heard behind my back, they told me I didn’t belong. I spent the whole day disappointed. I was only in first grade, how was I to know that my “exotic” culture was probably best appreciated only at home? Ever since that day in first grade, I’ve been afraid to try again. I wake up every day, put on my yoga pants and my hoodie, and I sit through my classes, trying to blend in as best I can.

As a society, we teach our kids to conform, instead of embracing their differences. This causes children to start drifting away from parts of their identity, especially at school, to feel more like they belong. Researcher Justin Saldana focused a lot of his time on conformity in schools, and how schools are where children are taught to transmit culture. But one of his biggest questions is “Whose culture is being transmitted?” More often than not, the culture students are taught to follow in schools is hyperfocused on straight, white, cisgender students, and doesn’t leave much room for anyone who doesn’t fall into this niche. Children who lack these commonalities then start distancing themselves from parts of their own identity, just to chase a sense of belonging. Saldana says that if “schools have a certain set of beliefs regarding how students should look, think and behave, then students will be stifled in their opportunities to discover, share, and take pride in who they are.”

Many children of color in schools battle with this issue every day. How can we go to school and leave half of our identity at home? In an article from Beachwood High School in Ohio, written by Hiba Ali, students were asked about their thoughts on assimilating cultures, and how they felt their home cultures and their school culture came together. Ali wrote that “students feel pressure to hide certain parts of their cultural identity to be more like the people around them”. Student responses aligned with this, as many of them talked about how trying to assimilate caused them to give up parts of their own identities, and instead try to be like the rest. Sophomore Amelie Cotta had said that the culture in their school was white, privileged, and much like High School Musical. Senior Prerna Mukherjee had said that “People don’t always feel like they can be themselves,” and that there was a constant pressure to change. As Ali writes, this pressure is created by the fact that society brings forth “a sense of shame regarding differences, causing minorities to feel a need to hide them.” And trying to fit in has its own repercussions as well. In the school space, the slang term “white washed” is often used to describe peers who act more like their white peers versus how they would act within their own culture. Students use this term to tease others who may be hiding their ethnic identities behind American culture. Pejorative terms like ‘coconut’ (brown on the outside and white on the inside), and ‘banana’ (yellow on the outside and white on the inside), are thrown around to imply that someone is betraying their race. But coming from a cultural background myself, I know how hard it is to amalgamate cultures and create one single identity.

This problem is only further exacerbated by the school system itself. Let’s look at my school district. Across nearly 6,000 students in our district, 33.6% of the body is Asian. 9.5% is Hispanic, and 3.4% is African American. Of our 450 teachers, I know of two Asian teachers, one Hispanic teacher, and just one African American teacher, none of whom I’ve studied under. I’ve never had a teacher who looks like me, celebrates the same festivals as me, or speaks the same language as me. Consciously or subconsciously, our school systems continue perpetrating exclusive cultures that don’t reflect the students or their backgrounds. The majority white staff teaches white values, making students feel that there is only one specific school culture that they must conform to.

But there are many important steps that we can take as schools and individuals to help students in school realize that they do belong in their classrooms. Michael Petrilli of Education Next establishes several steps that schools can take to try to eliminate the restricting cultures that have emerged over the course of many years. One of the solutions he mentions is to adopt culturally affirming instructional materials. In simple terms, this means to teach students about the diversity in America, and show them how to celebrate our differences. Another way to tackle the problem right at its root would be simply to hire more teachers with diverse backgrounds, making it known to students that they can be themselves.

On an individual level, it’s important to immerse ourselves in environments where we can thrive and flourish, and continue to support the people around us. Earlier this year at my school, student council decided to hold Culture Day as part of spirit week, where students could come to school dressed in their cultural clothing and celebrate their differences. When I first heard the idea, I was genuinely excited to share the Indian culture that I am so very proud of. But the more thought I gave it, the more scared I became. What if people thought I was weird, or treated me differently? After much deliberation, I decided that I wouldn’t dress up. That was until I talked to some of my friends, and realized that I wasn’t alone in my reservations. We were all afraid to be different. And so, we decided to be different together! Around 50 of us, out of 2000 students, decided we would all come to school in our ethnic clothes, and celebrate with each other. I’ll admit, 50 out of 2000 isn’t a big number, but that’s all it took. We all walked into school feeling so confident, just like I had in the first grade. And I didn’t feel left out for even a second. I felt so proud to display my exotic culture once again. Bringing my Indian culture into my school has helped me realize that I don’t have to hide who I truly am. I’m lucky to say that I am so proud of my culture and traditions. I am lucky to say that I love the clothes we wear and the food we eat. And I’m done hiding all of that behind my westernized behavior. My cultural identity is my strength. Not my weakness. And I’m done holding myself back. Writing this speech hasn’t magically expelled all my fears from my life, but it does mean that I’m going to start tackling my fears, one by one. I hope that one day I feel brave enough to wear a sari to a speech tournament. But until then, I hope to continue creating an environment in which no first grader is afraid to wear their hijab, or their kimono, or even, their sari.

Sources:

1. https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/common-ground-race-and-education-thats-hiding-plain-sight

2. https://bestofsno.com/40159/features/even-in-a-diverse-school-assimilation-can-be-a-formidable-force/

3. https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/general/general.aspx?topNavID=1&leftNavId=100&orgcode=02710000&orgtypecode=5

4. https://edsource.org/2022/reframing-school-as-an-identity-playground-a-space-for-exploration-and-affirmation/671815

WEW & IYG: Next generation speaks, life beyond academics

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 16:21:25 GMT

WEW & IYG: Next generation speaks, life beyond academics;

--A parent’s perspective of the event

The event started with the panelists and participants introducing themselves and their favorite ice cream. I must say that ‘Cookies and cream’ seemed to be a universally enjoyed flavor. Thepanelists included students who were seniors and on their way to college (Karisma and Kiara), with some juniors (Ninad, Trishna) and rising juniors (Aashi, Dhruv). The event was moderated by a fellow next-gen Trishna Nikte. She enquired about the daily life of a high schooler, and everyone chimed in on their schedule. It was very gratifying to hear how all kids had a good mix of academics and extra-curricular activities. Based on their responses, the panelists then delved into how they manage their routines. As a parent listening to these students speak, instilled a sense of confidence as to how mature the next-gen students are. They shared their successes and trepidations about academic life and beyond. The mantra across the panel was similar, find your own path of success. The discussion got more interesting when the panel interacted with the audience. Questions ranged from how to manage time as a teen, college applications and most importantly how to manage parents! One of the big points of conversation was whether parents are overbearing and intrusive in the teenager’s lives. The panel also reiterated that spending time with family was a great stress buster. The panel also highlighted that through open lines of communication, they were able to reduce the worries of the parents. To diversify the parent-teen conversation, the audience included some middle schoolers, and they brought out their thoughts and ideas on how they would approach high school. The discussion ended with a dance performance from the Darshana Jani group and well-deserved ice cream!

So, if you ask me what I learnt, I will say “Trust, Patience and Belief in your teenager is the path of healthy aging!”

Humrahee presentation by Girish Mehta ICC

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 01:46:44 GMT

by Kirti Nagpal

The Humrahee program on May 27th was attended by a record number of members from our community . We learnt in detail about the five wishes and Health proxy from highly revered Mr. Girish Mehta, founder and executive director of Indian Circle of Caring. We were able to talk about a grim topic with objectivity and get insight and answers to all the queries about Living Will and Health Proxy. The workshop was preceded by an energetic dance session involving some twist and gyration moves with Ekta Jain from Ekta Dance Academy. The event included a very lively karaoke session with people coming on stage and singing popular songs from the 70’s and 80’s . The audience sang along and enjoyed it equally with the singers!!!

Thanks to Sharat ji and Narayan ji for all their efforts. Would also like to give special and heartfelt thanks to Mr. Girish Mehta. Hope to see you all at the next Humrahee program in June.

"Let’s Celebrate HER”, a one of a kind event

Sat, 20 May 2023 23:45:55 GMT

by Neha Kaushal

“Let’s Celebrate HER”, a one of a kind event, hosted for the first time at India Center by the Women Empowering Women and Symphony team, on May 12th, 2023 to celebrate Mother’s Day! An evening where we saw 150+ ladies dazzling in their sarees, in Yash Raj theme, ready to celebrate themselves with their support groups, circle of friends, mothers, mother in-laws, daughters, and much more!! India Center was buzzing with laughter, fun, songs, dance, glamor, and glitter!! All the beautiful ladies were extremely happy and delighted when they were welcomed with return favors right when they walked in!

The event was kicked off by WEW chair Prof. Snehalata Kadam, talking about the mission and vision of the platform, where she was heard saying ‘the mission of this platform is to support, motivate, and most importantly empower each other’. Mrs. Sarita Deshpande, ISW Symphony Chair, was then called upon to give an overview of the initiative, ISW's new hub and platform of many popular performing art forms - such as music, dance, theater and visual arts like drawing, painting, sculpture, photography and films and stand-alone art form such as literature. We also had ISW’s Vice President, Prof. Jagan Srinivasan address the audience, giving them an overall update on the new India Center and array of events ISW has been conducting.

Mrs. Neha Kaushal, WEW team member then introduced two very strong community leaders, Mrs. Jaya Pandey, Chief Guest and Mrs. Jharna Madan, Guest of honor, who graciously accepted to be a part of this spectacular event. Mrs. Shiamin Melville felicitated both our guests with plaques and bouquets of flowers. Mrs. Jaya Pandey, talked about her journey as a mother and ideas about what a village should be and why everyone should have a village. Mrs. Jharna Madan also spoke about the power of motherhood, women empowerment and what we can do for each other, including our future generations.

The event then progressed into the fun segment that was planned by integral WEW team members Mrs. Kajal Kaushik Dixit and Mrs. Puja Harkut Rathi. They both took the stage as emcees of the event, giving our audience an overview of the second half of the segment, which included games, singing, dancing, and the most liked section i.e. our “ramp walk”, which was enjoyed by one and all! Everyone in our audience was a model for the evening and walked the ramp in their own unique style!!

We also had singers from the Indian Beatles, Mrs. Neha Maheshwari Rathi and Mrs. Padma Shenoy, who took us back to the nostalgic era of the 90's with their melodious singing. Mrs. Ekta Jain, from Ekta Dance Academy along with her team set the stage on fire dancing to Yash Raj songs, while we could see the crowd cheering and dancing along!!

Thank you to our sponsors Dr. Vinay Nikam from Ekdant Developers (NRI Bungalow Resort Project, Near Goa), and Mrs. Geena Virmani from Homes by Geena, for giving our winners absolutely gorgeous gifts. The group game winners received a gift hamper from Mrs. Geena Virmani, while the second & third raffle prize winners received some beautiful hand-woven sarees. The first winner from the raffle won a handloom stitched Paithani saree! Thank you to Dr. Nikam for bringing them all the way from India!

Lastly, thank you to all our audience who attended the event and made it a grand success!!

President’s Volunteer Service Award 2022 Awards

Fri, 19 May 2023 14:14:10 GMT

Congratulations to our President’s Volunteer Service Award recipients
Aadi Dixit Gold Teen 11-15
Aditi Jayendran Gold Teen 11-15
Arush Jagan Gold Teen 11-15
Dhruv Jagan Gold Teen 11-15
Mahati Jayendran Gold Teen 11-15
Pradnya Cowlagi Gold Teen 11-15
Tanushree Nekenti Gold Teen 11-15
Ayan Mishra Bronze Teen 11-15

Maurya Virmani Gold Young Adults 16-25
Anand Chintapalli Silver Young Adults 16-25
Prachet Mahawar Bronze Young Adults 16-25

Priya Vaidya Bronze Adults 25+
Geetanjali Virmani Silver Adults 25+

In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.

The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation.

Led by the AmeriCorps and managed in partnership with Points of Light, this program allows Certifying Organizations to recognize their most exceptional volunteers.

Do sign up for next year

Art Festival - 2023

Mon, 15 May 2023 17:50:14 GMT

Art, a universal language that transcends borders, cultures, and time.

ISW’s Art festival 2023, a Spring theme Art event that brought together artists from across Massachusetts to showcase their artworks and share their unique perspectives on art.

The festival returned with varied art forms with exceptional craftsmanship, Live art demos by artists, Panel Discussion, Artisanal, Art Competitions and Folk dance performances.

The festival provided an opportunity for artists to share their stories and inspiration with the audience. Many of them spoke about the personal experiences, their journeys and emotions that motivated their work, as well as the techniques and methods they used to create their art. Some even offered live demonstrations, giving visitors a firsthand look at how they created their pieces.

The wide range of art forms at the festival includes traditional Indian painting (Mithila Madhubani), three-dimensional sculpting in materials such as ceramic and metal, clay modeling, abstract painting, crochet, jewelry design, botanical art, wood carving, decoupage, and origami. Each form is unique, with its own techniques and materials, and offers a diverse range of creative expression.

One of the most captivating demonstrations was ‘Raamlila’ street style theater performed by child artists. They brought to life stories of Raam and Sita from Hindu epic Ramayana in a very fun and entertaining way. Child artists played multiple characters during the 15 mins skit and enacted all the roles so effortlessly that it kept (especially the youngest members) the audience engaged.

Another artist showcased her work in painting live on a canvas within a few minutes and turning it into a beautiful picture.

The festival also provided a platform to artisan vendors selling their unique handicraft items to the visitors.

The festival offered something for everyone to enjoy from delicious food catered by Honest (Lowell) to an interesting spring theme for art contests and attracted an audience of 600+ people.

Overall, the art festival was a celebration of the beauty and diversity of art. It provided an opportunity for artists and art enthusiasts to come together and share their passion for this unique form of expression. By showcasing different styles, techniques, and perspectives, the festival reminded us of the power of art to connect us and inspire us.

written by ~ Sonam Ahuja

Rocking Humrahee meeting

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 01:22:35 GMT

By Kirti Nagpal . It was yet another fun filled and informative session of Humrahi today at India Center. The day started with a small presentation by Kirti Nagpal about Blood pressure and its pathophysiology. It was an interactive session with the audience engaging in discussion and asking relevant questions. It was followed by an incredible Tabla performance by prodigy Yash who is a disciple of Maestro Zakir Hussein. He gave us a whole new insight on music and how music can convey different emotions and tell us amazing stories. Then we had an energetic and lively session of dance with Deepti who is a brilliant choreographer. Everyone was grooving to some old Bollywood songs. The Final event was everyone’s favorite Karaoke session. A super talented group of singers came on stage and mesmerized the audience with rendition of some popular Mukesh and Mohammad Rafi songs. The finale was Mr and Mrs Kohli’s Duet song. It was a fantastic closing to a stupendous day !!! Thanks to the whole Humrahi group who participated.

More here :

Album 1

PEN - Open Networking Event

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 11:41:31 GMT

by Ragoo Raghunathan

This month's PEN event - 'Open Networking - Inspire and be Inspired' was a great success if you ask me. We had over 40 registrations and most of them attended the event, given that it was the Easter weekend and many had plans that were not on their minds when they registered for the event. In any case we had a great turn out. This time the event was based around getting to know the fellow attendees, their profession, interests and hobbies - all in the efforts to make a stronger membership and more wholesome ISW-PEN initiative.

We started off with introductions of the newly recruited committee members - Resmi Nair, Milind Kanitkar and Tejas Shah. While Kelly and I co-hosted the event as co-chairs we welcomed at least 8 new faces in the audience. These were people who had heard about our initiative through their friends and other networks, and were attending for the first time. The goal of this event was also to collect ideas on what sorts of events we could hold in the upcoming months, and which area each one of the attendees would be comfortable contributing in. We had 2 white board full of ideas and we are organizing them in sub groups. You will all hear more about this in the upcoming newsletter write-ups. The event ended with some creative, out-of-the box card stacking and tower building skills from the audience - which turned out to be a fantastic team building activity and brought out some laughs and arguments justifying their creations.

Overall, it was an enjoyable morning over the yummy samosas and chai while the audience got to socialize before and after the event.

ISW U - Chess tournament

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 11:25:36 GMT

Congratulations to the winners of the Chess tournament :

You can view all the pictures of the tournament here

*Beginner:*

1st Place : Ana Thoras

*Intermediate*

1st Place :

Vivaan Shah

2nd Place :

Prahaas Rajasekharuni

3rd Place :

Nihanth Chilukuri

4th Place Tie:

Kabir Tiwari

Puneeth Nunna

5th Place Token Of Appreciation:

Ashwin Jais

6th Place Token Of Appreciation:

Adithya Jais

7th Place Tie Token Of Appreciation:

Anubhab Mukherjee

Diya Narendra

Mental Well-Being Discussion: A Positive way to enlightening a healthy life

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 11:17:25 GMT

An article by Neha Kaushal

ISW-WEW organized this event on Saturday, April 8 th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.

The chair of the program, Prof. Snehalata Kadam, along with our executive committee member Mrs. Anupama Deb Roy, welcomed the guests and the team members, Mrs. Neha Kaushal, Mrs. Kajal Kaushik and Mrs. Pooja Rathi, with a brief introduction about Women Empowering Women program’s mission and vision, and the importance of the much-needed event topic ‘Mental Well-Being’, in today’s world.

The event was then kicked off by our panelists, Dr. Kalyani Krishnan, Dr. Pooja Saraff and Dr. Ami Popat-Jain, introducing themselves to the audience. The panel discussion started with avery simple yet curious question – ‘what made you chose this as your career’? One of our panelists, Kalyani Krishnan talked about the unique path and her own inquisitiveness that led her to complete six degrees along with a PhD, and how she wanted to understand the holistic view of one’s emotions, before she could help them, she very specifically mentioned ‘I view you all as experts of your own life’….!

Neha Kaushal & Snehalata Kadam, the event moderator, then engaged the panelists with a question that comes to every individual’s mind – ‘What is mental health? When do we know we need to work on our mental health’? Pooja Saraff, our panelists mentioned ‘when you’re not feeling yourself, and its starting to affect your life’, that’s your first flag. The highlight of this discussion was ‘Don’t set the threshold too high to go see a therapist, and it’s ok to seek help’, as Ami Popat-Jain quoted. The discussion ranged from what the panelists had seen over the past two years, specially post pandemic, how it affected the social anxiety issues in different parts of the society, how kids missed out on their social development with their peers during the pandemic, and how as individuals we are all still trying to settle back and bring back normalcy in our own lives.

A key aspect of this event was when the floor was opened to the hall full of audiences, that ranged from some teenagers, young professionals, curious parents and even grandparents. We had questions ranging from how do we get our grandkids to get away from screen time, to the three top reasons for mental health issues in the past five years, to raising awareness in the community, and how the younger generation is more aware and open to talking about mental health well-being, etc. The event concluded by providing the audience with some useful information on how to find a psychologist, family therapists, and sharing the contact information of our panelists.

If you missed out on the event, here is a link to watch the recording: https://www.facebook.com/iswonline/videos/610174184001898.

Please feel free to reach out to us if you would like to get in touch with the panelists for further communication.

Sports & Game Tournaments galore !

Sat, 08 Apr 2023 11:10:09 GMT

by Abhijeet Nikte

ISW Sports Committee has been organizing a lot of sports events.

There are regular table tennis tournaments and socials on Monday evenings and Saturdays afternoons. They are a big hit with the community with several people signing for these events. The players having an amazing skill with table tennis and there are different formats of play - singles and doubles with doubles being the most popular.

Carrom is another sport that is gaining some traction on the indoor front. We will have more of these tournaments/socials so that people with all different skill levels can participate.

Please join the ISW Sports WhatsApp group to stay tuned for more sports events.

Weather is getting better and soon Pickleball will be all the rage…

March ISW Sports Family Game Night

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 23:03:46 GMT

by Abhijeet Nikte

ISW Sports’ monthly Game Night on March 17th was very well attended, albeit slightly with fewer people than the registrations led us to believe. People came in to play some games and had a stress-free time (other than the stress brought on by wanting to win the games they were playing ).

The players achieved their goals enjoying the Indian tea and biscuits to refuel themselves (Thanks to Shilpa Kulkarni). As has been the case in the past, there was an array of games set up for players to take part including table tennis (a very big hit of late), carrom, chess, board games and playing cards.

As spring dawns, please lookout for Pickleball to be in full swing on the court created for it near the back parking lot starting next week, weather permitting.

ISW WEW: Selfless Community Service event Recap

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 22:14:59 GMT

Selfless Community Service: Women Leaders Bringing a Positive Change Across the Globe
by Snehalata Kadam

ISW-WEW organized this event on Sunday March 19th 2023 at from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.

The chair of the program, Prof. Snehalata Kadam, welcomed the guests with a brief introduction about Women Empowering Women program’s mission and vision. The event then started off with a solo Sitar performance from one of the panelists, Mrs. Usha Verma, who played the popular bhajan, Vaishanava janato. Many felt nostalgic, remembering their childhood memories growing up with that composition.

Neha Kaushal, the event moderator, then engaged the panelists enquiring about their motivation for their community service. The panelists all commented that any community help starts at home with what we learn from our parents and the environment where one grows up. All agreed that we watch and learn, and many times emulate our parents’ humanitarian work.

A key aspect of community service is, if you are supporting the community, help comes pouring in. The strength behind community work was the enormous support of volunteers who work and give their time and efforts as best as they can. Supporters who cannot help with time and energy usually come forward with donations. There has been huge support by community volunteers especially during the pandemic.

One of the audience questions was how one can manage time, especially with familial and professional responsibilities. The answer was we make time because that kind of volunteer work brings happiness and peace to ourselves along with the satisfaction of helping others and it doesn’t feel like work. Many a times, it feels like being selfish, we are doing community service for our own happiness. In response to an audience question, it was said that family definitely comes first and so one needs to prioritize what’s important and how to manage it all. The event concluded with a beautiful performance titled “Jhansi ki Rani” by Shivangi DebRoy, a student of Mrs. Kalaimangal Anbalangan’s AmudhaSri Dance School.

Evening of Classical Music enthralls audiences, launches India Society & LearnQuest Partnership

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 22:19:58 GMT

On March 18th, India Society and LearnQuest Academy of Music kicked off their new partnership with a memorable classical music evening at a sold out event at the new India center. The program featured beloved local artists and renowned local artists who enthralled classical music lovers.

The program kicked off with a Hindustani vocal recital by Mrs. Swati Panda , accompanied by Dr. BG Parulkar on harmonium and the inimitable Amit Chatterjee on the Tabla.

The second segment moved to Carnatic classical with Dr Revathi Ramaswami on the Veena accompanied by Shri Pravin Sitaram on the Mrindangam.

The grand finale was rendered memorably by Apratim Majumdar on the Sarod, with Amit Chatterjee on the tabla.

"We are looking forward to many more such joint events in the future," said Mrs Sarita Deshande, chair of India Society's "Symphony" initiative, which aims to make India Center a hub for arts in all forms.

"We are glad to have found such a wonderful classical music loving community in the heart of Massachusetts" said Mr. Pradeep Shukla "We look forward to a deep partnership with ISW and to welcoming the community to our 15th Musical Conference, first time after the Pandemic. " The Conference is from April 7th - 9th in Weston, MA.

ISW general body elects new Executive Board and Committee on Governance

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 03:47:37 GMT

ISW hosted its annual general body meeting on Sunday, Jan 29th at the India Center.

The ISW General Body elected a new Executive Board for 2023 - 24. The following members were elected to the board :

President - Mr. Puneet Kohli
Vice President - Dr. Jagan Srinivasan
Secretary - Mr. Balki Chandrakasan
Asst. Secretary - Mr. Mukul Agrawal
Treasurer - Mr. Asish Bhattacharya
Asst. Treasurer - Mrs. Sakshi Gurao
Chair, Cultural Committee - Mrs. Amita Rao
Chair, Religious Committee - Mrs. Geetanjali Virmani
Chair, Cultural School - Mrs. Ruchi Chauhan
Chair, India Center Committee - Mr. Chella Palaniappan
Member-at-large - Mrs. Smita Manjrekar
Member-at-large - Mrs. Anupama Deb Roy
Member-at-large - Mr. Kamlesh Khilnani
Member-at-large - Mr. Rajesh Khare
Member-at-large - Mr. Abhijeet Nikte

The Following members were elected to the ISW Committee on Governance

Mr. Rajiv Dayal – Chair
Mrs. Meera Gupta
Mr. Ashish Cowlagi

ISW Presents President’s Volunteer Service Awards for Lifetime Achievement

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 15:28:28 GMT

The President’s Volunteer Service Award was awarded at ISW's Annual General Meeting to our most outstanding volunteers and to recognize the impact they have made for ISW

The Lifetime Achievement Award for Health Stop (established in 2005) and for ISW Cultural & Language School (established in 1992) was awarded to Carolyn Marie Passey.

The Lifetime Achievement Award for Health Stop (established in 2005) was awarded to Dr. Sahdev Raj Passey

The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to the Building Expansion Committee comprising of Rajiv Dayal, Ashish Vijayendrarao Cowlagi and Puneet Kohli

The ISW Community thanks them for the countless hours of service devoted to ISW

Free Health Stop Cancelled today

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 16:25:29 GMT

Due to inclement weather - the Free Health Stop is cancelled for Jan 25. If you have an Urgent Healthcare need - please visit your local emergency Department.

Remember - we follow Worcester Public Schools policy for emergency cancellations due to weather.

Yajas Devaguptapu: Why You should try 3D Printing

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 20:52:04 GMT

by Yajas Devaguptapu

Many people ask me why they should do or learn 3D Printing. Right now, I will answer that question. The answer is engineering. For example, everybody might say that it is complicated to build something. Because building you have to follow a manual and then make it, but sometimes we always have some problem, like that the instructions don’t make sense or you are missing a piece. Missing a part can be a big problem because whatever you try to do will not work. After all, that piece might be the connecting piece between two other things. This is where 3D printing comes in handy. You don’t need a 3D printer because many libraries have 3D printers. The only thing you need is the measurements of the pieces that you want to connect.

The other easy thing is 3D printing because there are many different websites for making stuff in 3D, like Thinkercad and Solidworks. If you want to create it, but let's say you don’t want to make it from scratch, I have a solution for you. There are websites where you type up what you are looking for, then whatever you type up, there would be designs, and whatever you like, then you could get the design and print it. One website like this is called Thingiverse.

I learned 3D printing in the India Center because they had a class on it, and I wanted to know how to 3D print because I thought it would be cool to learn. I had seen some of my friends build, and I was amazed. When I went to class, the teachers showed us the websites we could use to make our own, like the ones I told you about. They also showed us how the 3D printer worked and the science of it by taking it apart. They also showed us how to get the printer ready. I loved it. And after the basic class I also took the advanced class and enjoyed it. I also got the opportunity to help India Center teachers and help others to learn 3D printing, which was great.

Most of the time, I use 3D printing. It is not only for making pieces that I need to make things. Also, it is pieces that I can use to decorate my room, like different design pieces. These are some of the reasons why you should try 3D printing.

Have fun with 3D printing!

ISW Women Empowering Women initiative turns two!

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 21:28:46 GMT

ISW Women Empowering Women initiative turns two!
by Kalyani Kanuri

To commemorate the two year anniversary of ISW-WEW initiative, ISW hosted a wonderful celebration on Saturday January 21st at the newly renovated ISW (India Society of Worcester) center in Shrewsbury, MA. The event featured Dr. Manju Sheth, as the keynote speaker . Manju is a renowned physician at Harvard Vanguard and creator and host of “Chai with Manju” and the creator of New England Choice Awards and “Women who Win” platform.

The program was kicked off by Prof. Snehalata Kadam, chair of WEW, who talked about her vision for a forum where women can uplift each other by sharing their experiences and transforming the “I Can’t” to “I Can”. This initiative started off as an online forum during the pandemic. Snehalata; an assistant teaching professor of Physics at Worcester Polytechnic (WPI), talked about the upcoming collaboration of ISW -WEW with WPI’s South Asian Student Association (SASA) and ISW’s Professional and Entrepreneurial Network. (ISW-PEN).

Mr. Puneet Kohli, the president of ISW, talked about the organization’s upcoming 60 years anniversary celebrations and how the organization has not only brought the Indian community together but also other communities. He explained how ISW maintains strong relationship with other organizations in Boston such as IAGB. He further talked about how the community came together to support the ISW expansion. With the expansion, ISW is now able to kick off new initiatives such as the “ISW University” which teaches students of all ages , “ISW Symphony” to support art in all forms, “ISW PEN initiative” and “ISW Sports” which recently held Game Night.

Talking about how each and everyone’s journey in life is unique and different, Manju Sheth the guest of honor spoke about how women can learn and inspire each other. Hailing from New Delhi, Manju loved to write stories from a young age and even started her school magazine. She trained in Medicine in Calcutta, London and Boston. She talked about how the demands of practicing medicine which leaves little time for other activities. Her determination, hard work and multitasking helped her to achieve her goal of being a journalist and media professional in addition to her medical profession. She strongly believes that it is important to realize your strengths and feed off of them. She was invited by India New England News to start “Chai with Manju” Over the past 10 years, she has interviewed world renowned personalities such as “Sadh Guru”, Pandit Jasraj”, “ Sudha Murthy”, “Shankar Mahadevan”, “Joe Kennedy” and most recently “Indra Nooyi”. Manju recently started a new platform, “Women Who Win,” to showcase the stories and experiences of extraordinary women in different fields.

The event also felicitated the WEW’s first group of panelists – Yogita Miharia, Director of QA at Oracle, Aditi Taylor, SVP, at MFS Investment Management, Kalyani Kanuri, Senior Manager of Finance at Quest Diagnostics, Terri Camesano, Dean of Graduate Studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute along with Dr. Manju Sheth.

Neha Kaushal , a core team member of the WEW team, talked about what inspired her to join WEW and her involvement with SEWA, a charity organization where she was involved in an initiative to train women who lost their livelihood in new professions such as saree weaving.

Kalyani Kanuri, talked about upcoming ISW WEW events. In March the team will be hosting the “Gift of Giving” that will feature a group of panelists who are active with various charities. This event will be followed by a mental health awareness event followed in June by an educational event featuring panelists who will provide high school students and their parents with insights into choosing majors in college and life in college. She also talked about a mentorship program aimed at making the core members available to anyone who would like to learn about fields such as finance, marketing and IT.

The event aptly ended by a beautiful poem by Kajal Kaushik Dixit , a core member of ISW titled “Tu Dar Math, tu aage badh” which means “Don’t be afraid and keep moving forward”!

Saturdays 9 am and Sundays 7.30 pm Heartfulness Meditation & Yoga

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 15:10:59 GMT

Additional session Sunday 7.30 am started February 5

On the morning of January 14th, a session of Heartfulness Meditation was held at the India Center. More than thirty individuals were in attendance. The session began with rejuvenating yoga by Devesh Srivastav and introduction to Heartfulness by Shruti Sehra and George, preceptors from Heartfulness Center. Many attendees reported feeling a sense of inner peace and left feeling rejuvenated.

The sessions with yoga and meditation will continue at 9 am on Saturdays at the INDIA Center. Depending on response, additional sessions maybe added early Sunday am or weekends. Any questions please send email to iswuniversity@iswonline.org.

ISW Volunteers, track the hours

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 18:38:05 GMT

We want to recognize the amazing volunteers who contribute to India Society of Worcester

Deadline for awards extended to Feb 28, 2023. Track your hours

Try and fill it at the end of each quarter in 2022

https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/eligibility#volunteers

To be eligible for President’s Volunteer Service Award, one has to be a US Citizen or permanent resident.

If volunteers have volunteered for other organizations that do not have this PVSA program, we can combine it , depending on verification, as long as there is no duplication.

Hours Required to Earn Awards in Each Age Group

Age Group Bronze Silver Gold

Kids (5–10 years old) 26–49 hours 50–74 hours 75+ hours

Teens (11–15) 50–74 hours 75–99 hours 100+ hours

Young Adults (16–25) 100–174 hours 175–249 hours 250+ hours

Adults (26+) 100–249 hours 250–499 hours 500+ hours

Christmas Magic Moments at ISW

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:45:59 GMT

Christmas Magic Moments at ISW

The 16th Annual India Society of Worcester Christmas celebrations were held at the newly expanded India center on December 3rd 2022 . Families dressed in Christmas colors in Indian attire, from women in their colorful Saris, to men in their suits and cultural garb, kicked off the very first 2022 Christmas season together! Christmas lights with the sounds of joyous Christmas carols sung in various Indian languages rang through the hall and brought the Christmas Spirit. After two years in the pandemic, many families wished to attend the in-person 2022 gathering but the registration has to be closed early to limit the seating to 300 in the new India Center hall and over 250 came to celebrate the first Christmas of the season at the India Center.
Ms. Saritha Deshpande and Ms. Geetanjali Virmani moderated the program and this year’s Christmas Story was shared by Mr. Krish Dhanam , a popular motivational speaker engaged in corporate world for over 30 year in 5 continents. The message of unconditional love demonstrated in birth of Jesus Christ bringing peace and Joy was presented by Mr. Dhanam . Mr. Puneet Kohli , President of ISW along with EB members cut the first Christmas cake following ISW Christmas tradition with greetings to the community. Dr. Jagan Srinivasan , VP, ISW, narrated the significant events of ISW in 2022 including the success of ISW Gala event by the generosity, commitment and the faith of its members in ISW. One of the founding members of ISW , Dr. Sahadev Passey along with Mrs. Carolyn Passey by his side gave the ISW Hallmark Speech from ISW formation days and growth over each decade from its beginnings in 1963 and shed light on the ISW Vision and gave the challenge to next generation to continue the legacy . M Rajoo Ananth, Chair , ISW Crisis committee narrated the compassion and care of ISW community towards our fellow Indians hurting around us in our own neighborhood. The appearance of Santa Claus brought Cheer and Joy to the children as they received Christmas presents and their families took pictures with Santa . The highlight of this year's event is the festive Christmas dinner set up arranged Mrs. & Dr. Passey and families enjoyed Christmas dinner put together by the many volunteer families sharing the love and Joy of Christmas

ISW Christmas 2022 - Event photos
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tCMWUXcaBPoJ2ZFaGbUVZHz6RSP0k8hU?usp=sharing

ISW Christmas 2022 - Photos with Santa

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnkrLuFnKxGN809ZDWsnKzZSn1TU?e=bj3G1z

ISW Christmas 2022 - Dinner photos
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16r94bCVss1IYz_akaleXwSu8oVoDwHC2?usp=sharing

written by - Mr. Ernest and Mrs. Manjula Gulla

Magical evening at Tower Hill Diwali

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 17:21:29 GMT

The Diwali celebrations in collaboration with NEBG's Night Lights, began with our dynamic Dhol Tasha Lazim team, and despite the cold weather they delivered an energizing performance outside. It was followed by the ISW cultural program in the auditorium. Throughout the evening , we had Free Henna, a display of Indian plants from NEBG, Lantern Craft in the classroom. The Chess game by Tara Chess Academy and 3D printing by Kunal showcased our in person 3D printing classes at India Center.

The Gallery Bazaar with colorful wares from India, the Culture exhibit by Carolyn , floral Rangoli in the lobby, Sand Rangoli in the entrance walkway, and not to mention the catering by Bawarchi all contributed to a dazzling evening.

We are honored to be a part of the popular NEBG Night Lights exhibit , which also included the new Ramble exhibit . Enjoy the pictures.

Arathi & Shiamin

New Fall ISWU sessions Chess, 3D Printing, Online Tutoring, Product Innovation Classes

Sat, 22 Oct 2022 15:32:30 GMT

ISW University is offering new sessions

Join for Social Chess on Saturdays at 5 pm : it is free for experienced players. If you want to learn, sign up for classes $30 for 6 sessions

Signup for Online Workshops/Tutoring 2022 starting October 22

Semester A runs for 15 sessions October, 22 2022 -January 2023. Private tutoring in Spanish , chess and Python are underway. Do support our IYG volunteers for their service hours

ISWU & ISW PEN NEW PRODUCT INNOVATION CLASSES

These Innovation classes are a product development hands-on sessions ending in students submitting to two challenges for prize money They are open to Middle school or more Starting October 27 Thursdays 30 mins online first. Feedback from the parents, our daughter is learning the aspects of the product and patterns. Definitely a new experience. Dr. Bhatia is well experienced and knowledgeable, we are glad to get the training/mentoring from him. Another parent, glad she is participating, she is developing her own voice and we appreciate Dr. Bhatia inspires kids through this program.

ISWU and IIT AGNE: 3D Printing Workshop Grade 1+

Grades 1 and higher, no previous requisites, need their own laptop. Starting October 29 Saturdays 60 mins, in person. One slot left

ISWU & ISW Sports: Chess Beginners & Intermediate Classes (in person)

Classes for all ages, adult or child (in person).

Oct 29th, Nov 5th, Nov 12th, 19th, Dec 3rd, and 10th, closed for Nov 26 for Thanksgiving. Free Social Chess sessions for experienced players available at the same time.

ISW Durga Puja

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 21:25:15 GMT

ISW Durga Puja

By Shivangi Das Gupta

Durga puja is an annual celebration that takes place every October and is a cultivation of social, cultural and religious gathering. In this interview Shivangi asks Barin Bando about what it means to celebrate and experience this event.

Barin Bando says that the reason Durga puja is celebrated in October is because it symbolizes the best time of the year: when monsoon is over, winter is ahead and harvesting has just been done. The five days of celebration are Sashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Nabami and Dashami. The first day signifies the welcoming of Ma Durga and her four children into her paternal house. On this day the deity is unveiled. On the second day, Saptami, the nine forms of Durga are worshipped. The third day celebrates the day Durga killed Mahishasura the demon. On Nabami goddess Durga and her daughters are celebrated and showered with gifts. And on the last and final day the Durga idol is immersed into the Ganges River and married women partake in Sindhur khela, where women play with vermillion to show respect and gratitude.

Durga puja is happening all over America on a larger scale because of the influx of Indians, but Barin Bando mentions how it can be easy to forget the source of this fun. Indian society has given us the opportunity to experience the social aspect while maintaining originality. It is quite different from India where those who cannot travel to different parts of India may have a limited exposure to the different Navratri/Durga puja/Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations. But with the wide range of diverse celebrations in America, a door is opened for everyone to experience different traditions.

The different activities like language school and Humrahee and what ISW has to offer is the magnet which attracts people to come and celebrate this event. The cultural performances, the well performed puja, and the opportunity to mingle with family and friends is what people look forward to when attending and this is why it is important to have all three aspects. This year Barin Bando invited six singers who are part of the Indian Ensemble in the Berklee College of Music, an internationally acclaimed music school located in Boston who performed a beautiful collection on the Nabami day. Several accomplished dancers who completed their arangetram were also invited to showcase their talent on stage at ISW Durga puja by portraying items that told the stories of Ma Durga.

Barin Bando finishes with some childhood memories of Durga puja in Kolkata. He mentions it as feeling like a “happy, good time”. He specifically remembers going to a pandal with his grandma where he would watch her offer her prayers to God and would do the same. The music in the air and the rhythm of the dhak are also some fond memories for him. There is generally less pressure in school, families are in good spirits no matter their situation and helping each other out.

He hopes this festivity continues to grow with celebrity and local talents at ISW in years to come and wishes to see it spread to communities outside the Bengali community.

New Job, New Country! Embracing and Empowering A Multi-Cultural Work Environment

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 21:16:36 GMT

New Job, New Country! Embracing and Empowering A Multi-Cultural Work Environment

An event organized by ISW WEW- Women Empowering Women

September 10^th 2022

This event brought together women from different professional backgrounds to discuss how they succeeded in their personal and professional endeavors when they moved to the US.

Dr. Saritha Venkatesh, a practicing OB/GYN in India, switched her professional trajectory by joining pharmacovigilance and drug safety in pharma industry after moving to Unites States. She commented on never losing your identity in any environment.

Vishakha Khamankar, a bank officer in India moved to the US to start her new family. Starting as a volunteer at the public school system, she is currently a personal financial representative. Her two cents was that family caretaking and professional career can go hand in hand.

Madhavi Vaddi, a senior architect, IT by profession was able to maintain her professional career after hers move to US. She mentioned that a strong family support was crucial for her success. She highlighted that staying strong and making your voice heard is crucial steps that helps you grow.

Suchitra Shinde had her own successful architecture business in India before moving to US. Here, she decided to switch to IT field as she found the flexible work-life balance helped her keep moving forward. She mentioned the need to maintain the enthusiasm of being always a learner.

Kiran Kewalramani was in financial sector after completing her MBA in India. After her move, cooking and celebrating with family and friends helped her initially before she found her calling in the workforce as a financial manager.

All panelists discussed about unintentional and unconscious biases against women and how we need more awareness of this issue. They reiterated the point of being strong and having a strong support network of family and friends that helped them succeed. The panelists and the audience discussed how everyone’s journey was their fingerprint within the community and sharing our stories can help women empower themselves to learn from each one of us.

ISW GARBA NIGHTS 2022

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 16:22:59 GMT

Sanedo! Sanedo! Lal lal Sanedo….the song echoed at ISW’s Garba events on September 30th and October 1st 2022.

The community came together to celebrate the feminine form of divinity Maa Durga and danced to the family favorite tune of Sanedo. Men and women in their most colorful and beautiful Kurtas and Chaniya Cholis sprung up from their spots and landed spinning, dancing with swift turns, swinging arms and short, energetic hops on the Sanedo beat.

Every year ISW celebrates the spirit of Navratri by honoring, worshiping, and celebrating the Hindu deity Maa Durga (also known as Maa Shakti). This year as well, ISW celebrated 2 nights of Navratri Garba. Friday night had live traditional garba music by Jhankar, and Saturday night was foot tapping music by DJ Rohann. Both nights were truly breathtaking! There was not a dull moment. Everything from the music played to the enthusiasm of people from various cultural backgrounds constantly hopping and skipping in concentric circles on Garba songs.

Garba night is incomplete without Maa Durga’s Aarti. ISW’s committee executed this in the most traditional way; on Friday by worshiping Durga Idol in India Center; and on Saturday, by worshiping the clay lantern with a light inside, called a garbha deep ("womb lamp"). The vessel itself is a symbol of the body, within whom divinity (in the form of the Goddess or Devi) resides. Garba is danced around this symbol to honor the fact that all humans have the divine energy of Devi within them. And the circles symbolize the cycle of life.

What kept the bazaar vibe going was traditional vendors and delicious Indian food.

Many of us have grown up in India playing garba every year for Navratri. ISW’s Garba events rekindle the joy of playing garba here in the United States and recreate the same energy and vibe far away from homeland. The best part is that we are sharing that culture with our younger generation who were seen having as much fun as anyone else.

ISW would like to thank all our volunteers for helping us organize such amazing dandiya nights. And we would like to thank YOU, our community at large, for coming to celebrate with us.

written by Sonam Ahuja and Amita Rao

ISW Cultural Committee Members

A recap of the ISW Gala 2022

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 03:00:58 GMT

A recap of the ISW Gala 2022 - Jalsa with Sudesh Bhosle

By ISW eSandesh Youth Reporter, Tharegha Manoharan

10 years ago. The same, breathtaking place. The same, encouraging crowd. The India Society of Worcester (ISW) proudly celebrated their success in fulfilling their vow for a bigger, better center for the community this past Saturday, September 17th. A decade ago, ISW took their first steps towards a new center at a similar gala during their 50th year celebration. Today , ISW successfully achieved their dream of expanding their center in Shrewsbury doubling from 4000 to 10,000 square feet!

To honor this accomplishment, which was achieved flawlessly despite a worldwide pandemic, an impressive gathering of over 250 patrons met at Worcester’s historic Mechanics Hall celebrating this outstanding feat and displaying their support accompanied by the one and only Shri. Sudesh Bhosle, the inimitable voice of Amitabh Bachhan.

The event started with a red carpet welcome and complimentary valet service for guests, enthusiastically greeted by ISW volunteers. Upon entering, a commemorative photo portrait was taken as a way to remember this exciting evening on the magnificent staircase. Many guests stopped by the Silent Auction room, a first for ISW, and the Youth Room, which was a welcome respite for younger kids. As guests arrived in the main hall for the cocktail reception, it was a sight to see – friends catching up with one another, meeting new people, enjoying the bright atmosphere, especially at an event this grand after so many years.

Speaking to the many donors who supported the society, it was apparent how the society played an important role in maintaining community connections. For many, the India Society of Worcester became one of the first places to connect with others. Now decades later the growth of ISW is a dream come true mainly due to the hard work of all its volunteers over these past years, who have transformed this mere “community center” into a special place for the ISW family. From its humble beginnings when dance and singing lessons had to be held in someone’s garage to the bustling, large ISW Center today fills their chests with pride.

Talking to the various people contributing to an event like this, it made me realize how much appreciation we had for one another. Long time ISW member, Mr. Barin Bando, emphasized how much effort had to be put in to plan such a gala. He also mentioned how everyone attending the gala was always there to lend a hand, whether it be in the past or the present. Gala Chair, Shiamin Melville, said that it was a fabulous evening that was made possible with the dedication and effort of the numerous ISW volunteers.

This gala not only celebrated the success of ISW’s expansion, but also the accomplishment of most of their ISW Vision 2020 goals by creating a a home away from home. As Mr. Puneet Kohli, president of ISW, said, “The ride just keeps getting better and better.” He attests to this by comparing ISW’s accomplishments today with where it was when he first joined 18 years ago. Mr. Balki Chanrakasan, ISW Secretary, takes great pride in declaring how ISW has reached a whole other level to truly connect to the entire community, breaking all social barriers, as proved by events such as this gala.

The social hour was followed by a delicious dinner consisting of a variety of mouthwatering selections catered by Bawarchi and was followed by a video by Sandeep Shah that summed up the efforts and achievements of ISW. With the new ISW Center, the video highlighted how ISW truly was the place where its members could learn, play, celebrate, grow, help others in the community.

Mr. Puneet Kohli took the stage reminiscing about the promises made at the 2013 gala to grow ISW, the first step in that direction with the bhoomi puja, and the challenges of construction during the covid pandemic. Through it all, friends and ISW members called to encourage the team to continue the important work. With their support and encouragement, ISW was able to successfully open the doors of the newly expanded center in 2021 fulfilling their commitment to the community: to families, to kids, the youth, and their senior supporters. Since its opening, ISW has already held over a hundred events at the new center! Beyond celebrating cultural events, Free Health Stop and returning to in person ISW School's language classes, the new center allows ISW to bring the community together with a range of activities from ISW Symphony in music, art and creative projects; ISW University with a range of offerings from 3D printing to tutoring; ISW Professional and Entrepreneurial Network with topical panels and discussions; ISW Sports offering activities from pickleball to chess; and ISW Women Empowering Women bringing together women to share experiences and encourage each other’s endeavors. Not to forget the Humrahee meetings returned with new activities for the young at heart.

Mr. Sanjay Shah, the chair for the fundraising committee for ISW, thanked the supporters and donors, many who were in the room, for their support. This was shown by the fact over half the initial project estimate was raised in 2018 the year the project was launched. He acknowledged that ISW has been built on the shoulders of volunteers, many present at the gala, along with community members who have contributed to the growth of ISW.

This led to the main event of night, the long-awaited performance of the one and only Mr. Sudesh Bhosle, a playback singer for countless Bollywood films, and especially known for his enthusiastic rendering of favorite songs. He was joined by his son, Mr. Siddhanth, and accompanied by Mrs. Sunita Kapur, her daughters and a team of musicians that came from New Jersey. A special addition to this talented group, was ISW’s own Mrs. Sarita Deshpande. The performers enchanted the audiences’ heart, and drew them towards the stage, where they broke into dance to the popular, energetic songs. After a short break to replenish their energy with desserts and tea, the fun-filled event carried on till 11pm.

The most heart-warming moment for me was my conversation with Mr. Shyam Sharma, one of the founders of the India Society of Worcester back in 1962 when there were a mere 13 Indians in the area. Beginning as the Indian Association and growing into ISW, the number of people involved has grown from 13 to over 10,000 today. Mr. Sharma describes himself as part of the history of ISW, watching the physical growth of the community, supporting each other through different needs, and celebrating with each other. It doesn’t matter how you first connected to ISW, it always provides opportunities to create more connections.

ISW Durga Puja Five Day celebrations

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 16:51:46 GMT

ISW Durga Puja 2022 Five days of celebrations

Scroll down and click on the PUJA you wish to attend

Since there are multiple days/ events, a separate registration is needed for each day It will help us in setting up. Thanks

MAHA SASTHI PUJA | Saturday, Oct 1

10am - 1pm: Pratima decoration, doors are open for worshippers evening

SAPTAMI PUJA | Sunday, Oct 2

12:30 - 2pm: Saptami Puja

2pm Prasad distribution

5.30pm - 7pm Evening aarti and Puspanjali, Bhajan Shradha Agarwal

7pm - 9pm Cultural program followed by dinner

Supriyo Datta-Vocalist, Indranil Mallick-Tabla, Oindrila Roy Mallick-Dance

Dinner contribution $20 family and children under 16, $10 per person

MAHA ASHTMAI PUJA | Monday, Oct 3

11am Puja performed by Pandit Shiv Ram Sharma 6pm - Talented musicians from Berklee School of music, Vocalists Prithvi Prakash and Nandini Samanta, Tabla Upasak Mukherjee, Violin Pranav Swaroop and Hana Uwai on Keyboard.

Dinner contribution $20 family and children under 16, $10 per person

MAHA NABAMI PUJA | Tuesday, Oct 4

12pm - Puja & Prashad

6pm Musical program by local talents.

DASHAMI PUJA | Wednesday, Oct 5

11 am Visarjan, Ladies sindoor ceremony

508-330-9973 Nisha Bawa 508-864-9875 Barin Bando

Any questions contact nishabawa60@gmail.com

.Nisha Bawa, Chair, ISW Religious Committee.

Sudesh Bhosle is coming to perform at ‘Jalsa - ISW Gala 2022

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 16:38:05 GMT

For more info, click here

The versatile genius Sudesh Bhosle is coming to perform at ‘Jalsa - a melange of old and new Bollywood songs’ for ISW Gala 2022 event. The ‘Jalsa’ is happening at Mechanic’s Hall on September 17, 2022. The legendary singer is heading our way and this entertaining show is not to be missed.

Popularly known as ‘voice of Amitabh Bachhan’ - Mr. Bhosle has sung many songs for Mr. Bachhan. He can’t get off the stage without singing one of the most favored songs `Jumma Chumma De De from the movie ‘Hum’ (1991). His brilliant mimicry of numerous Bollywood stars leaves his fans asking for more. Sudesh Bhosle will be bringing his band with singer Sunita Kapur (New Jersey)

Since singing for the film Zalzala (1988) and Ghatothkach in 2008. Bhosle is the producer and judge on K For Kishore, a singing contest on Sony Entertainment Television. He has sung many famous Bollywood songs for Amitabh Bachchan including "Jumma chumma de" from 1991 movie Hum, "Meri Makhna Meri Soniye" from Baghban and others. His brilliant mimicry of numerous Bollywood stars leaves his fans asking for more. When he is on stage, there is no need for others.

We would love for you to join us, enjoy the stunning ambience at Mechanics Hall with great entertainment and food. You will remember this for a long time

‘Jalsa - for ISW Gala 2022 is a fundraising event. Fundraising has been underway since 2013 for our own India Center expansion. We are sure you have seen the progress over the last several years with India Center Expansion. What you may not know is that the building and the facility you see have been made possible by the generosity of our community. The original expansion was planned at a cost of $1.7 million and would have been good for the short term, but we would have felt constrained in a few years. The community encouraged us to go for long term needs, and the facilities you see now were put together at a cost of $2.55 million. Our experience of last year tells us that this was a smart decision. The Center is humming with activities geared for all members of our community.

The community has continued to support ISW with their financial support. The expansion has been completed with a loan from a bank and we would like to pay it off at our earliest. The ‘Jalsa - ISW Gala 2022’ program will include cocktail hour, dinner, music, and dancing. We need your support to make this event successful and pay off a significant portion of the loan

Program:

Cocktail hour at 5.30 pm
Dinner at 6.30 pm
Musical program and dancing to follow

Pledge levels and form

We have multiple pledge levels as shown on the pledge form. Along with your donations we have a nominal charge of $100 per person to cover the cost of dinner and program. Two persons are allowed for each donation. Event will have assigned seating. We are offering complimentary parking and care in the Youth Room.

New England Asian American Organizations condemn Hate and Violence

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 14:07:01 GMT

The following joint statement was released by Indian community organizations of New England in response to the recent acts of hate and violence in Plano Texas

Condemnation of Hate and Violence – From New England Asian American Organizations

We the representatives of Indian American organizations in New England and our allies, strongly condemn the recent act of anti-Asian violence in Plano, Texas. We are very disturbed by this and recently increased acts of violence and hate crimes against Indians, South Asians, and Asian Americans in general. We do commend the Plano Police department for responding to the incident with urgency and understanding.

Asian Americans, like all other immigrants, have made significant contributions to this great land despite facing ongoing prejudice based on accents, color, religion, or perceptions of leadership or other abilities.

We believe in the fair treatment of all human beings regardless of age, education level, race, ethnicity, gender expression and identity, nationality, national origin, creed, accent, physical and mental ability, political and religious stance, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status, veteran status, profession, or any other human differences.

We unequivocally and unapologetically condemn the divisive forces of hate, inequity, and injustice. We stand united in love and peace and stand against racist, discriminatory, violent acts against any community.

Together, we say to those who are victims of such acts, “We see you; we hear you; we stand with you.”

Respectfully and in solidarity

India Association of Greater Boston (IAGB) India Society of Worcester (ISW)

Saheli Boston Blackstone Valley India Society, Boston Chapter

ADL New England North America Telugu Society, Boston Chapter

Asian Community Fund India Association of New Hampshire

Colette Phillips, Founder Get Konnected

ISW Symphony’s Dhol-Tasha group performs at the Natick Multicultural Day

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 11:13:13 GMT

Natick’s annual Multicultural Day celebrates the many cultures within the community through food, music, dance, and performances. Organized by the Natick Center Cultural District, this year’s event was the sixth annual Multicultural Day and ISW Symphony’s Dhol-Tasha group performed at the event as one of the invited participants.

Held in person after a couple of years online, the Common Street Spiritual Center in Natick Center hosted performances from diverse cultures including performances by the Natick India Group, traditional Irish dance, classical Chinese Dance and Story, Qi Gong exercise, Klemzer and Drum Nomad bands, and Natick Praying Indians. Symphony’s Dhol-Tasha performance was held outdoors on the adjacent Natick Commons.

The Dhol Tasha group performed a routine that featured five different styles of beats. In addition to traditional beats from Maharashtra, it also included a garba style beat from Gujarat and a bhangra style beat from Punjab. The audience on the Natick Commons was enthralled by the energetic beats. Kids, adults, and grandparents alike erupted in a spontaneous dance participation. Some enthusiastic audience members even played the “lejhim”, danced the “jhenda”, and played the “jhanj” alongside the drumbeat, creating a fabulous “Symphony”.

India Day - 2022

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:58:01 GMT

India's 75th Independence Day celebration - ISW (India Society of Worcester)

Remembering our past is extremely important. But we also have to think about building our future. Let's do everything to keep our freedom and carry it through the years. Happy Independence Day!"

As the above quote says ISW is here to remember our past couple years of pandemic but to think positive and spread the happiness and build our future by gathering our community together to celebrate our Independence Day after 2 years of gap due to COVID-19.

India's 75th Independence Day was celebrated by our ISW community at the grand venue of DCU Center-Worcester past Saturday, (August 6th).

The program was filled up with captivating cultural programs, Ethnic shopping vendors and local business booths, Play area for kids, Art fair, Food vendors, Health stop and many more attractions.

The entire day's event kicked off by an incredible Parade consisting of 'Dhol Tasha Lezim' performance by our community volunteer enthusiasts. Great formations of Lezim players and Dhol Tasha players caught the eye of each of the spectators there.

This year's cultural program theme was 'Panchatatva - 5 elements of nature - Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. The stage performances included presentations by different groups like Natyamani School of Dance, Ekta's Dance Academy, Aangikam Dance Academy, Performing arts of New England, ISW Cultural committee, Bolly Beatzz, etc. Some admirable performances also involved our Humrahee group where seniors who are young at heart stepped up the stage to celebrate an independence by singing medley of Patriotic songs in full energy and enthusiasm.

The Bazaar section of this event was extremely appreciated by attendees where one could enjoy the shopping of ethnic clothings and accessories from local business, one could enjoy visiting many non profit organization booth with many free giveaways or get more information of their work. Many folks enjoyed and loved eating delicious Indian food from multiple food vendors like Bawarchi and Chennai Express.

The kids zone near the entrance of the DCU center had lots of fun elements such as cotton candy, popcorn, play area, face painting and more.

This year ISW put forth beautiful artwork done by our community artists and some professional artists. The art fair had a lot of artistic bags, purses, architectural designed paintings, some great acrylic paintings, and madhubani paintings, etc.

One of our ISW's unique features of such events is a booth for ISW Health Stop. ISW Health Stop offered free COVID vaccines during this event and many attendees took advantage of the same.

The guest of honor for the event was Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty who graciously handed out ISW scholarships to the youth who had achieved academic as well community work excellence in their high school career.

The full day event ran from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM with more than 3000 attendees at the DCU center.

Around 35 committee members and more than 100 volunteers were working towards this event for 3 months.

The organization has earned one more successful feather in their hat. Thanks to all the volunteers, participants and vendors.

Big shout out to the sponsors of this event - DCU Bank, UNI Bank, eClinicalWorks, and Webster five.

Jai Hind!

PC credit - Anil Nair

Click here to view the pictures of the event

August 2022 ISW U, Chess, 3D, Spanish, Vedic Math, Geometry & Probability

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 14:01:44 GMT

UPCOMING EVENTS for ISW U, Chess, 3D, Spanish, Vedic Math, Geometry & Probability. Late summer classes in August

Hi all, thanks to our wonderful volunteers, we still offering a variety of classes even now, do check it out

UPCOMING EVENTS INDIA CENTER 152 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA
ISWU & ISW Sports: Chess Beginners & Intermediate Classes (in person)
8 Aug 2022 3:00 PM

ISWU Spanish classes camp (in person) 8th graders
8 Aug 2022 4:00 PM

ISWU and IIT AGNE: Summer 3D Printing Workshop Grade 1+
10 Aug 2022 6:00 PM

ISWU Online Intro Vedic Math for Grade 3 and up, gym for the brain

19 Aug 2022 10:00 AM

ISWU SAT classes Geometry and Probability

3 Sept 2022 8:00 AM

ISW U Team

Usha Tanvi & Shiamin

508-353-4316

Symphony - Art Festival 2022

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 01:33:13 GMT

A one-of-a-kind Arts Festival organized as ISW Symphony initiative at India Center was a Grand Success!
ISW Symphony team would like to thank all our Artists who brought not just their beautiful artwork, creativity but also their amazing presentations and a deep thought involved in their artistry.
Sunanda Sahay - Madhubani Artwork
Susmita Bando - Paintings
Mridula Satyamurthi - Clay Sculpting
Sara Lividini - Collage work
Bindiya Jain - Wooden Tray with mod podge
Suchitra Patil - Architectural designs and nature drawing
Tejal Doshi - Mandala Art
Neha Ujlayan - Spring Tree Artwork
Sunita Ramnani - Folk dance
Dhruv / Arush / Atharv - Fusion Music

Our Vendors -

Aditi Dinakar

Manisha Sinha

Neeraj Gupta
Pushpa Joshi
Rashmi Deshpande
Swati Baldua
Bawarchi (Framingham)
Special thanks Alankar Decorators for sponsoring decorations for the festival.
Big thanks to all the attendees, presenters, and volunteers without whom this event would not have been a success!
Art Contest  - The Art Contest was greatly attended and appreciated by attendees. All the contestants' art-work was admired by our spectators and judges. Heartiest congratulations to our winners
Kids (10 and under ) - Kite Decoration -
  1st - Darshit
2nd - Anushka Karkhanis
3rd - Niyati
Kids (11-16 years) - Rangoli on canvas in acrylic painting -
  1st - Karishma
2nd - Surabhi Dindore
3rd - Sahiti Kundu
Adults (over 16) - Rangoli on canvas with sand art -
1st - Rampriya Sundaramoorthy
2nd - Abhinaya Vikramasundaram
3rd - Puja Rathi
Adults (over 16) -Clay sculpting -
  1st - Divya Kantem
ISW Symphony would like to thank all the volunteers who contributed to this event by working hard to make it happen and successful.

Article written by one of our attendees on Art Festival – Sonam Ahuja
Importance description
Art can be a freedom of expression for some, a way of bringing one's imagination to life, a way of making things fun, a way to make sense of this wide world and yet lighting am spark of curiosity for some others. Art is a language that knows no gender, no race, no color and only truly influences our sense of self.
About ISW event:
ISW’s much awaited art festival was held on a beautiful spring Saturday of April 23rd at ISW center, Shrewsbury. The event was one of a kind and was able to bring art in its purest, most authentic form together under one roof. The event provided a platform to various artists to demonstrate their many different forms of art. The event covered exhibitions of Madhubani art, Clay sculpting, Paintings, Collage work, Wooden tray art,
Architectural designs and Nature drawing, Mandala art etc to name a few. The event hosted a very well thought art contest that stimulated the minds of young artists and also provided avenues of artistic expression to adults.
This was me and my five year old daughter’s very first experience of attending an Art event at Indian Society of Worcester. We began participating in the event with the kite decoration art contest. It was such an indulging experience of celebrating Indian culture through art.
We then went on to create flowers with stencils for the Spring Art Tree. It
thrilled/encouraged my little one to have her art displayed on a tree for everyone to admire.
We were just in time to witness the amazing performance of Rajasthani folk dance on a very popular song Mhare Hiware me Jagi dhokdi. It reminded us of the beauty of the Indian culture and the many colors of India. It made us all groove to the tune and experience the joy of dancing by joining the very talented performers on stage. It was now time for us to cater to our growling stomachs with some mouth-watering Indian street food. From samosa-chat to mango lassi everything left us drooling for more.
The next art had the superpower to leave my very fidgety toddler still for a full 3 minutes, yes it was Caricature art followed by beautiful henna art.
Finally it was time to announce the award for much deserving winners of the art contest. The award ceremony that encouraged young budding artists to pursue their talents and nurture their inner imagination. It definitely did light a spark in the mind of my five year old child to learn to express herself through art.
Conclusion/Thank you note
It was an evening well-spent at ISW attending a very unique art festival. Thank you to the organizing team of ISW for co-ordinating and bringing together such talented artists under one roof and giving young artists the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents! We hope and look   forward to attending many such events in the future.

In Memoriam: Subash Chander Gupta

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 19:39:17 GMT

Subash Chander Gupta passed away peacefully Thursday, April 7, 2022.

He passed away at the age of 79 surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Sneh Gupta, his daughter and two sons, Shweta, Taneja and her husband Sanjay, Ish Gupta, and Gaurav Gupta and his wife Vidushi. He is blessed with his grandchildren, Paarth, Vaasu, Viraaj, Gauri, Geetika, and Vaani.

Subash was the son of the late Gokal Chand and late Leela Vati born May 8, 1942 in Lahore, India. He lived his early adult life in Madras where he completed his Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Madras. In 1966 he married Sneh and they had an adventurous life moving to Ranchi, Delhi, Faridabad, and ultimately the United States in 1980. Initially settling in Andover, Massachusetts, he lived there for 26 years after which moved to Shrewsbury.

Having traveled widely throughout the world for work, Subash believed that the United States was the land of opportunity and the country where you could have an ‘idea’ and mold it into whatever you wanted. He firmly believed that one should make an impact in your field and give back to your community.

In engineering, he continued his training to become an expert in quality assurance attaining several higher level certifications. In his role as lead quality assurance engineer, he helped introduce high quality Bose speakers and make them a household name. Later, he joined Raytheon and continued his quality assurance work in defense projects until his retirement.

Being a firm believer in giving back to one’s community, he actively engaged in a variety of community societies including India Society of Worcester, United India, and VHP. In these endeavors, he engaged in growing the societies with multiple active leadership roles. People would look to him to be an arbitrator between contesting thoughts. Having strong spiritual beliefs, he advanced his knowledge of Hinduism and our connection with the universe. He was one of the founding member of Sarva Dev Mandir in Oxford, Massachusetts and actively engaged in its operations.

Calling hours will be held between 3 - 5pm on Sunday, April 10th at Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532. A private cremation to follow the next day.

Shanti Puja followed by Memorial service and lunch at ISW India Center from 12.00 noon Sunday, April 17th. RSVP to Gaurav Gupta.

In Memoriam: Shobha Shastry

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 02:58:55 GMT

ISW mourns the passing of Shobha Shastry, a staunch ISW supporter and life member, who touched people far and wide with her selfless service to the community. We will miss her vivacious personality and generous spirit. Om Shanti. A compilation of memories of Shobha from the ISW community in celebration of her life is on the ISW Website.

ISW will be holding a celebration of Shobha's life on April 8th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the ISW India Center. More info and registration on the ISW Website.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Shobha for the education of Shobha's granddaughter Suhana Sundari Sullivan may be made to a college fund set up in her name. Please mail checks to:

Kasi Viswanathan
Account owner FBO Sahana Shastry
The Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan
C/O 44 Carriage Hill Rd, Northborough, MA 01532

Thank You. Any questions please contact president@iswonline.org

Shobha Shastry

Shobha Shastry was born in Mosur, Chennai to CM Krishna Shastri and Shivagami Sundari Iyer. She is survived by her father CM Krishan Shastri, Daughter Shyla Shastry, Grand-daughter Sahana Sullivan, Brother Ravi Shastri, Sister-in-law Malathi Shastri, Nephew and Niece Mahadev and Revathi Shastri respectively. She is predeceased by her husband Sharad Y. Shastri and her mother Sundari Shastri. She passed away peacefully on March 23, 2022 in Marlborough, MA.

Shobha’s childhood and youth were highlighted by enjoying life and laughing with friends - charming others with her strong, loving personality. She was an artistic savant, specifically in painting and

drawing. Her creative genius also manifested itself in the theater, as she cultivated and honed her acting skills, displaying her adept ability to capture an audience and win others over.

At the age of 19, she was engaged to Sharad Y. Shastry of Vellore. Shobha moved to the United States and married Sharad in Westborough, Massachusetts when she was 24. Shobha and Sharad were married for 25 amazing years until his untimely passing.

Shobha had numerous achievements but, most notably, was the founder and CEO of Alankar Event Planners and Decorators, providing wedding services, decorations and mandaps in New England for 25 years and helping thousands of couples get married. She was one of the first female Indian American entrepreneurs in New England and was known for her gold-star service, always fulfilling her commitments to her clients. In addition, she was a part of many other non-profit organizations such as the Indian Society of Worcester and Tamil Sangam.

The spirit of Shobha could be described in many ways. She was an inspiration to all with her generosity and her ability to accept everyone as if they were her own. Shobha was a carefree, fun-loving, selfless, larger-than-life character whose devotion towards others was boundless. The happiness she brought to everyone was unparalleled and her presence alone could light up an entire room.

Her wake will be held at Rice Funeral home located on 300 Park Avenue, Worcester, MA on Sunday, March 27th, 2022 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The family will be holding the funeral as a private ceremony. They respectfully ask those who would like to pay their respects to attend the wake. In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make any contributions in Shobha’s memory to her granddaughter’s college fund, please contact her brother, Ravi Shastri, or Kasi Viswanathan.

ISW WEW: The Next Generation Speaks - event Recap

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 17:43:34 GMT

ISW WEW: The Next Generation Speaks: What drives them, motivates them, and keeps them going!
By Kalyani Kanuri

As part of ISW’s ongoing series of Women Empowering Women (WEW) panel discussions, this month’s event featured an impressive panel of young women. Held on March 5^th via a Zoom session, these young women of South Asian heritage offered unique perspectives and valuable insights on how they decided on a career path, what motivates them, and what keeps them motivated. The program was kicked off by Snehalata Kadam, chair of WEW who gave an overview of WEW’s core mission and the importance of learning from these young talented women. This discussion is aimed at helping students in making educational and occupational choices based on the experiences of the panelists. The impressive panel consisted of Amee Desai, Gayathri Nandyalam, Kavya Ragunathan, Rhea Vyas, Sneha Hingorani, and Shubh Agrawal.

Kavya completed her undergraduate studies at Boston University and worked for a few years at the Broad Institute where she realized her love for research. She is a first-year doctoral student at Duke University studying developmental and stem-cell Biology. She moderated the event and asked the panel thought provoking questions while also providing her insights. Throughout her childhood, Kavya wanted to pursue a career either in PR or communications. But when she listened to a lecture on neuroscience in college, she fell in love with it and that got her thinking about a career in science. Kavya provided wonderful recommendations on career choices and talked about the importance of personal wellbeing. She is a huge believer in the importance of carving out personal time which is as essential as eating and sleeping

Amee, recently finished her master’s in health care administration at the University of Connecticut and has been working as a Team Lead at Definitive Healthcare for the past two years. She always knew that she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare although she was not sure if she wanted to focus on the administrative or clinical side. Amee credits the wide range of classes offered at UConn for helping her decide to focus on the administration side of healthcare. Amee encourages students to be open minded and take a variety of classes before deciding on a major.

Gayathri is a senior at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), studying Computer science and is interning at Microsoft this summer before returning to Georgia Tech for her master’s in computer science. Growing up she wanted to study medicine and become a either a neurologist or a cardiologist. She participated in a lot of premedical programs but in her freshman year at college she had a change of heart after taking classes in computer science, entrepreneurship, and leadership. She has found a common connection between her two passions of medicine and computers and would love to utilize her computer skills to make an impact in the medical field. She encourages students to be open minded and explore various courses before deciding on a career path.

Rhea teaches first grade while also pursuing her Master’s in Moderate Disabilities at Worcester State University. From a young age, Rhea knew that she wanted to make an impact on our youth and pursue a career in teaching. Growing up she felt the pressure from the South Asian community to become either a doctor or engineer. With the encouragement and support of her parents, she overcame these pressures and followed her passion and became an elementary school teacher. Rhea has a special interest in urban education which stemmed from growing up in New York City. She encourages students to follow their interests and not to compare with their peers.

Sneha is a third-year medical student at Drexel university’s College of Medicine in Philadelphia. Throughout her undergraduate years, she explored options such as physical therapy, Physician assistant but eventually decided to pursue a career in practicing medicine. She worked in a clinical setting during her gap year between her undergraduate studies and medical school. She felt that that time away from school helped her develop immensely both on a professional and personal level. She feels that it was one of the best decisions of her life.

Shubh worked as a high school counsellor for a few years before deciding to pursue a degree in clinical psychology. She received her bachelors from Brown University in Health and Human Biology and is currently pursuing her doctoral Studies at William James College. Her long-term goal is to help the South Asian community as she feels that there is a dearth of Clinical psychologists focusing on the unique challenges of our community. She also emphasized the importance of selfcare and the need to prioritize health and wellness especially in our younger generations.

Overall, this WEW event was very informative as the participants did an excellent job articulating the considerations behind their career decisions. The panelists provided invaluable advice and guidance to our younger audience.

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill: Free Passes

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:25:12 GMT

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill (new name)

New Summer hours available, check the website

Free ISW organizational membership passes permits general admission to the Garden. We can email an e-ticket to you, 24 hour notice would be appreciated.

One membership card admits three individuals for FREE, we have two, so 6 can visit per day. 10% discount at The Garden Shop at Tower Hill with presentation of membership card (three individuals per card). Savings on classes, tours and workshops, and Discounts at local participating nurseries upon presentation of membership card, plus FREE gardening advice through the HORTLINE, open every Wednesday from 12noon–4pm. Call 508.869.6111 x104 or email hortline@towerhillbg.org.

ISW Harvest Festival

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 03:00:37 GMT

Hi everyone, my name is Tanu Nekenti, and I’m here to give you a little recap of last Saturday! If you didn’t already know, the India Society of Worcester (ISW) kicked off the new year with an extraordinary event called The Harvest Festival! It took place last Saturday, February 12th, 2022, from 2-6 pm. The event was a virtual program streamed LIVE on ISW’s Facebook page.

India is popularly known as the land of festivals, considered a colorful nation where people celebrate with full vigor and joy. Harvest festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm to mark the beginning of the new spring and are celebrated in most of India as the new year by Hindus. Being the cheerful nation that India is, the most vibrant harvest festivals of India involve interesting mythological legends and joyous celebrations. They are as incredible and diverse as their people and landscapes and let you experience the beauty of Indian culture. India has 29 states, and every state celebrates harvest festivals at different times in the year. The first yield of the crop is a delight for the people, as it marks a time of prosperity for the farmers. This leads to them celebrating it cheerfully as a festival.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we could not gather in person as in previous years. However, we invited the extended ISW community to participate virtually in the cultural event and dance competition. This was met with astounding participation.

The show lasted nearly three hours and was emceed by Tanushree Nekenti and Kunal Chauhan. It featured a variety of acts, including Indian traditional dances, semi-classical dances, and Bollywood medleys. Participants included many energetic individuals from all age ranges. All the dances were brilliantly choreographed and incredibly entertaining for both young and old.

As mentioned earlier, each and every single contestant brought a fantastic talent to this one-of-a-kind platform. There were four very accomplished judges to judge the competition: Hema Iyengar, Shaila Verma, Sunita Ramnani, Srinivaas A.B. They did a spectacular job with the judging, though I know it must have been tough for them, as all the performances were absolutely magnificent! However, since it was a contest, the judges identified these gems from the participants.

Age Category - Below 9 years

1st place - Jhankar by Shaswati Basu - Performers - Gavishi Joshi, Rohini Patel.

2nd place - Bollywood Beats by Shaswati Basu - Performers - Shivani Suresh, Ayushi Dasgupta, Saanvi Karuturi, Thenammai Valliappan

3rd place - Disco by Ekta Jain -

Performers -

1.Riya Thiagarajan
2. Isabel Thomas
3. Pihu Mangarhe
4. Jasmin Grover
5. Niyati Dosala
6. Kaira Agarwal
7. Shanvika Potli
8. Jia Gadhia

Age Category - 9 to 12 years

1st place - Tapori by Ekta Jain. Performers - Naksh Parwani, Neil Dixit, Neil Dave, Anish , Saahith Karthik, Ruhan Lawana

2nd place - Dancing Divas by Adilakshmi. Performers -

Sai Jayita Vootla, Pallavi Padala, Pragathi Senthilkumar, Sravya Gollapudi, Tanvi Padmaraju, Tanvika Chintalapudi

Age Category -13 to 17 years

1st place - Kathak Kunj by Shaswati Basu. Performers - Aishani Mukherjee, Safalta Sanjay Shukla, Samvriddhi Sanjay Shukla, Mihika Sengupta, Saanvi Basu

2nd place - Tarana by Mona Mitra. Performers - Prisha Kumar, Miley Arora, Sanvi Kumar, Dia Arora

Age Category - 18 and over

1st place - North and South by Ekta Jain. Performers - Geena Virmani, Jyoti Grover, Namita Khungar, Neetu Gupta, Nipun Asija, Manasa Singamsetty, Vaishali Sharma , Ranjan Sharma

2nd place - Agary Nandini by Priya Asthana and Sadhvi Majumdar. Performers - Priya Madhan/Priya Asthana

Congratulations to everyone, the contestants and the winners. All of you are winners in our hearts and performed magnificently!

All of the contestants and participants brought sensational talent to this one-of-a-kind platform. We thank our participants for sharing their talent and love with us. We also thank our choreographers, emcees, organizers, sponsors, and especially the audience at home; we couldn’t do it without you! I had a great time watching and participating in this amazing event, and I hope you had fun too! If you missed the event, you can still view it on Facebook on the ISW page. We hope to see you at future ISW events as well.

~ Tanushree Nekenti

Deadline extended for President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) to February 28

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 20:28:29 GMT

Deadline for PVSA award extended to Feb 28, 2022

Thank you for your volunteer hours.

We hope to track the hours to recognize the amazing volunteers who contribute to India Society of Worcester

Try and fill it at the end of each quarter in 2021

https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/eligibility#volunteers

To be eligible for President’s Volunteer Service Award, one has to be a US Citizen or permanent resident.

If volunteers have volunteered for other organizations that do not have this PVSA program, we can combine it , depending on verification, as long as there is no duplication.

Hours Required to Earn Awards in Each Age Group

Age Group Bronze Silver Gold

Kids (5–10 years old) 26–49 hours 50–74 hours 75+ hours

Teens (11–15) 50–74 hours 75–99 hours 100+ hours

Young Adults (16–25) 100–174 hours 175–249 hours 250+ hours

Adults (26+) 100–249 hours 250–499 hours 500+ hours

ISW-LAMBDA re-launches weekly online LGBTQ support

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 18:45:47 GMT

ISW re-launches multiple LGBTQ support

---Vivian Saravanan, Shiamin Melville

Lambda is a peer-led safe space for LGBTQ+ youth of South Asian origin to connect with peers for informal discussion, support, and connection with the larger community. While the group is tailored to the South Asian LGBTQ+ experience, all are welcome!

Meetings occur every Wednesday from 8:00 - 9:00 PM via Zoom and feature activities and topics chosen by group participants.

We recognize the individual talents and creativity of our youth and hope to provide a safe space for them to not only have fun but to feel welcome taking initiative in planning group activities. This is also a great leadership opportunity for older South Asian LBGTQ+ youth and adults.

To join our weekly meetings, or talk more about becoming a peer leader, please email lambda@iswonline.org.

ISW Family of LGBTQ+ Support Network

The ISW Family of LGBTQ+ Support Network is a support group for family members of LGBTQ+ people meeting periodically. The aim of the support group is to provide an open forum for the discussion of touching issues raised by the intersection of Indian culture and LGBTQ+ people. An adult facilitator will be present to lead discussion and provide referrals to pertinent resources.

For more information, send email to friends_of_lambda@iswonline.org

ISW Advisory board

School Counselor Shubh Agrawal, MEd, Harvard Teaching Fellow

Ami Popat-Jain, PhD

Pediatrician Dr. Sahdev Passey, MD,

Numerous resources through CenterLink and OUT MetroWest.

ISW University- Online Tutoring Register for Second Semester: February 1, 2022 onwards

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 22:10:14 GMT

Enrollment is open, starting February 1, 2022

18 sessions, schedule determined by Tutor and parent.

Prepare your child for the second semester academic year. Math, English, Spanish, French, Speech & Debate, Chess and many more. Tutor and Tutee will meet via zoom once a week for 18 sessions. One-on-One, no group classes.

Cost - $90 (18 sessions at $5 per session ) - ISW member

A separate registration is required for each subject

Funds collected are to be allocated to ISW Building Expansion.

Use ISW membership email id to login. ISW Membership can be completed/renewed here.

We would also love to hear back from you, so please fill out the survey

ISW and Celtics back again

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 00:12:41 GMT

ISW STRONG

--Ragini Seth

India Society of Worcester is back on the TD Garden floor after a 3 year hiatus. Not one but two performances

On Wednesday February 2nd Boston Celtics play against Charlotte Hornets: Darshana Jani’s group performs the pregame show.

On Thursday March 3rd Boston Celtics vs Memphis Grizzlies: Jasmine Shah’s group and Ekta Jain’s group perform the pregame show.

Three of our best choreographers are putting ISW back on the TD Garden map. We will have over 500 of our community members going to the games to watch their kids perform on the floor that the Celtics play. It is indeed a proud moment for all of us to keep the tradition going that was started in 2011. When we asked if we could schedule a pre game performance, Marc Rogers, our Group Celtics coordinator, did say we were his favorite group. He was amazed that we were coming in for two days. Yeah we are ISW STRONG. For more information please contact the choreographers directly.

Feb 2nd, 2022 Wednesday

Darshana Jani @508451-3190

March 3rd, 2022 Thursday

Jasmine @ 603-930-3783 and Ekta Jain @ 508 488-7775

The Art of Self- portrayal: defining your presence

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 22:00:47 GMT

Affinity Networking: a ISW-Women Empowering Women (WEW) event

By Snehalata Kadam and the WEW team

On January 8 th 2022, we organized an online event called ”The Art of Self-portrayal: defining your presence”.

The event was an interactive, inspirational conversation attended by members of the community. The participants were from diverse professional backgrounds, for instance: an oncologist, leading a drug discovery company, a mental health professional and an entrepreneur. They provided an unique perspective on the theme by sharing their journey with us. The take-home message of the event was that being confident and prepared enables you to succeed in any professional setup. All participants interacted and left with a smile on their face.

WEW team members Kalyani Kanuri and Neha Kaushal did a great job engaging the attendees and carrying the conversations forward.

The WEW initiative is part of ISW’s 2025 strategic plan focusing on ELEVATING, EDUCATING and EMPOWERING women.

For ideas and suggestions, contact Snehal at

isw-wew@iswonline.org

ISW Christmas 2021

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 18:49:51 GMT

The 15th Annual India Society of Worcester Christmas celebrations were held at the newly expanded India center on December 11, 2021 following the CDC guidelines. Families dressed in Christmas colors in Indian attire, from women in their colorful Saris, to men in their suits and cultural garb, kicked off the 2021 Christmas season together!.. Christmas lights with the sounds of joyous Christmas carols sung rang through the hall bought Christmas Spirit. After 2020’s Drive-thru Children’s Christmas Gifts pick up, in the midst of the Pandemic , many families wished to attend the in-person 2021 event but the registration has to be closed early to limit the audience to maintain Social distancing in the auditorium..

This year’s Christmas Story was shared by Mr. Justin Joseph, Professor of communications at Boston University bringing the significance of birth of Jesus Christ to bring Peace and Hope in times like this . Mr. Puneet Kohli , President of ISW along with Family cut the first Christmas cake following ISW Christmas tradition with greetings to the community, Dr, Jagan Srinivasan , VP ISW, presented the 2025 ISW Vision and Mr Rajoo Ananth, Chair , ISW Crisis committee , shed some light on community care for hurting families in the pandemic Also ISW presented a donation to the T&G Santa Fund to reach out to community around us to share the love. The appearance of Santa Claus, bought Cheer and Joy to the children as they received Christmas presents and took pictures with Santa. The families was also given to-go boxes with Indian food to enjoy at home with their families.

ISW Christmas 2021 - Event photos
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1U2YJs62ExBZGCagOqw3FzfwEvpkurUxT?usp=sharing

ISW Christmas 2021 - Photos with Santa
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19OrLeYLb0uewDrNM-K1Pnsm-wOJOQ2UU?usp=sharing

ISW WEW: The Transformative Power to be Professionally Successful

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 19:46:06 GMT

On Thursday, October 14th, 2021, the third session of WEW (Women Empowering Women) took place at ISW. Snehal and Neha did a great job presenting the panelists, women who are well established in their respective fields and have demonstrated leadership in their career path. The audience was enthralled by their accomplishments and their guidance and tips for successful career growth.

Reeta Rao, the Head of the Biology Biotechnology Department at WPI is an extremely accomplished and confident woman in the field of education and research. She prepares and mentors young scientists and researchers. She gave insight into how she has excelled in the field of biotechnology and is a role model for women who aspire to be in the teaching and research fields.

It was heartwarming to hear about Nausheen Maulana’s journey from MathWorks, where she began modestly in the quality assurance team, and later became CTO and start up Advisor. She led complex teams faced many challenges and was successful in turning them around. She has a passion for learning and integrating new technologies.

Apeksha Tripathi, a gentle and soft-spoken woman, has done amazing things in the field of medicine. Apeksha not only runs a pediatric and women's health primary care facility, she also teaches at University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has been awarded for teaching as well.

Priya Samant works in the fields of Social Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation, Non-Profit Management, Women and Youth Empowerment, Strategy Consulting, and Government and Politics. She is actively involved in her community and stays connected to her Indian roots and can be seen eloquently draping a saree be it a high political meeting or being a panelist, or even a presenter at various forums.

Neha Beniwal spoke about how she faced reluctance from her parents while she wanted to come to the USA for further studies. Neha always focused on what she wanted to achieve. She set a path for herself in the male dominated field of cyber security. She believes in the three E’s (Educate, Engage, and Enable) and the 3 I’s (Inclusion, Influence, and Impact) as she feels this is what makes a person achieve their goals.

This seminar was a humble and insightful experience. Hearing the panelists making big impacts in their field and continuing to influence and make a difference to women was inspiring. Audience has inquisitive questions to the panelist which made the session very successful.

WEW will hold its next session in December 2021.

Shrewsbury's Got Talent 2021 - Winners

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 01:18:08 GMT

Thank you for your enthusiastic participation in Shrewsbury Got Talent 2021.

If you missed seeing the Facebook Live event, you can still watch it on the ISW Facebook page. Links provided below -

Part 1 - https://www.facebook.com/iswonline/videos/935782133948981

Part 2 - https://www.facebook.com/iswonline/videos/264162755563306

Winners were announced during the event. Here are the winners again -

Tiny Tots - 8 years and below
1st prize - Alex Wilson

2nd prize- Sahasra Singari
3rd prize - Pihu Mangarhe

Young Icons - 9-12 years old
1st Prize - Rihana Sophia Dash

2rd Prize - Prisha Kumar
3rd Prize - Anthony Fuzaylov

Terrific Teens - 13-18 years old
1st - Adele Fuzaylov

2nd prize- Advait Bhowmik
3rd prize - Ethan Nguyen

Awesome Artists - 19 years and above
1st prize - Sneha Swaminathan
2rd prize - Grishma Shah Gandhi
3rd prize- Nitika Kundra

Congratulations to all the winners.

And others, please don't lose heart. It was a VERY close competition. Be proud of yourself and keep rocking!

Amita Rao, Cultural Chair, India Society of Worcester

ISW School off to a great start: Sept 2021

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 22:02:51 GMT

We had a very successful open house on Sep 19th for new parents. All the teachers joined and introduced themselves. (Watch the video)

On September 26, we had our first day of school. It was held in person in our beautiful building. After the remote learning it was great to hear the halls and classrooms filled with the chatter of the kids, and the hustle and bustle of learning. Currently we have received 108 registration. At the first day of school, everyone was careful to wear masks and follow the protocol. ISW provided hand sanitizers in every space.

ISW Ganeshotsav celebrations recap

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 03:25:35 GMT

By Sarita Deshpande

On Sunday September 12th ISW's very own Shrewsbury Ganeshotsav Mandal (SGM) team celebrated Ganesh Festival with lots of enthusiasm and vigor, for the tenth year in a row. Ganesh festival is mainly celebrated in Maharashtra, where its public festival form was first introduced by the leading freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak in his hometown of Pune. With the spread of Marathi speakers across India, the Ganesh festival is now celebrated outside Maharashtra too. People celebrate and follow the tradition fondly in various parts of the world.

This year's festival at ISW had many significant highlights. First and foremost, it was held in the newly renovated India Center. Second highlight was the hand-made three and half feet Ganesh idol. It was made out of eco-friendly clay, by local artist Shrikant Savant. Shrikant along with his wife Sapna and daughter Urvi spent umpteen days in July and August to create this beautiful idol. The devotees who came marvelled at the grace and beauty of the idol with much appreciation.

The pooja, aarti in the morning was performed by Guruji Shrikant Joshi which was telecast live on the ISW Facebook page and followed by a cultural program. The event was held in a hybrid mode to limit the in-person attendance, in accordance with covid guidelines.

The theme of the event was folk art (लोककला) of Maharashtra. In conjunction with the theme, the local artists had made a beautiful backdrop of various folk arts of Maharashtra in picture form. One more highlight from the cultural program entertainment by Music 18 group from India. It also included an interview of popular Marathi and Hindi celebrity couple and Hindi actors, Ashok Saraf and Nivedita Joshi Saraf.

The third highlight of the event was the Dhol-Tasha. The team played the instruments (specially ordered from India) in a procession with many others dancing and rejoicing to the rhythm. The air was filled with energy and a lot of enthusiasm just like the festival back in India. From the older generation to young kids everyone enjoyed the music and participated in the celebration fever wholeheartedly. The afternoon entertainment program was broadcast live where local artists performed various dances and songs to highlight ten different local folk arts.

All in all, it was a very colorful celebration with pooja, prasad, entertainment program, decorations and food, and the added grandeur of the newly renovated India Center. Everyone who attended the program enjoyed it thoroughly. The fruitful completion left all very satisfied, especially the volunteers who had planned the event for months.

The Shrewsbury Ganeshotsav Mandal Team consists of Ashok Kale, Atul Deshpande, Durgesh Warty, Govind Dindore, Manjiri Patil, Priya Vaidya, Sakshi Gurao, Sarita Deshpande, Shrikant Savant, Vishakha Khamankar, and Yatin Manjrekar.

You can view the video of the cultural program and the pooja on the ISW Facebook page.

ISW WEW: Summer Reflections and Achievements Event Recap

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 20:27:38 GMT

By Snehalata Kadam

ISW Women Empowering Women (WEW) held its summer event on Thursday, August 12, inviting a panel of 5 professional women from varied backgrounds. The rationale behind this event was showcasing how different talents leads to one’s contentment. Each speaker shared their intriguing stories, career choices and hurdles they faced in their journey so far. It was fun to hear their stories, ask questions and the engaging audience appreciated the insights.

Priya Vaidya, A multi-talented personality:

After completing her M. Tech. in Biomedical Engineering from IIT Bombay, Powaii, her desire was to pursue further studies in United States. Per the demands of a conservative society in India, she got married. Instead, she came to the US on a student visa and completed her Masters in Electrical Engineering from Brandeis University. Though she was keen on pursuing her PhD in the Bio-Medical field, she concluded that her happiness was more important than her potential academic profession. Fast forward to today. Not getting a PhD degree did not stop her from being any less successful as a professional. She has published 15 papers and has 12 patents. While being at the peak of her successful professional career, she followed her creative intellect with poetry, art, and culinary skills. She has also poured many hours and days volunteering and fund raising.

Sarmistha Bera, Singer

Just like many of us, Sarmistha went through the norms of an arranged marriage and moved to the US on a dependent visa. Prior to her move, she was a college teacher back in India and was quite sure of continuing with a career in education in the US. She kept an open mind and investigated available opportunities and what she could enjoy professionally beside teaching. She decided to do her masters in Computer Science. At the same time, she had a very young child at home and another on the way. With her hands full, she had to keep aside her love for music. As she was hoping to get back to her world of music once she was free of familial responsibilities, she brought her musical instruments with her when she moved to US. She also thrives on experimenting with growing unique plants at home. She has grown a three foot tall Jamun tree. Nature and gardening has taught her to be grounded. One day you are planning to harvest your precious cauliflower in your vegetable garden. The next day you see an animal has cleared it all. It is such a bummer yet such an experience grounds you to go ahead and try again next year.

Amita Naik, Environmentalist

Amita also came to US on a dependent visa, but the stay at home scenario didn’t stop her from exploring opportunities to understand and learn about the difference between tropical agriculture and temperate one. She did not let go of her love of agriculture and environmental sustainability. She joined the library, attended green and suitability conferences, volunteered at the environmental health department through a connection she made at one of the conferences. Once she got her Employment Authorization Document, she worked at Price Chopper to build her employment record. As she had done a Masters, she did question whether she was doing the right thing. She felt working at Price Chopper made her a resilient person. At the same time she updated her resume, made connections, and never gave up until she finally got a job in her field. Initially the struggle was inevitable with working odd shifts at Price Chopper. Now she has a great job at the MassDEP (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection).

Radhika Bisht, enjoying the constancy and the unconditional love with her dog Zeus

Radhika grew up with dogs in her house back in India. After moving to the US, doing a Masters in Software Engineering and joining the workforce, the ups and the downs on the professional front, the effort raising the family, she really yearned for the unconditional love of a pet. Once she got her pet Zeus, she felt complete. She got a feeling of contentment and closer to nature through him. She found the weather wouldn’t bother her and her work stress would disappear with the smile that Zeus would bring to her face. The one thing she truly treasures with Zeus every single moment is reliving her childhood.

Karuna Gurbaxani Bhatia, a multicultural accounts expert

Karuna has done a masters in business management from India. She has worked in multiple countries- in India, in the UAE and now in the US. As a management leader working with employees from different cultural backgrounds has broadened her perspective and trained her to be a robust learner. She is very passionate about yoga and uses it to create a family environment of togetherness at home and to build a better future. Her lesson in life is that the definition of perfection is unique for each individual, three is no general definition that fits everyone.

ISW University: Tutoring Sessions begin September 20, 2021

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 02:14:17 GMT

Hello Everyone

Thank you for supporting our summer programs. With the help of our volunteers we were fortunate to hold 20 summer sessions over the last two months. Looking forward, we now want to share our upcoming academic programs, please see below

August 2

ISW University: Introduction to Lego Robotics (second session) 1st grade to 4th Grade $25 for 5 sessions starting August 2, ending August 6

August 2

ISW UnIiversity: Tutoring: Preparing for the upcoming academic year, one-on-one six sessions $30, ending August 31, schedule is mutual

August 11

ISW University: QI (key) Skills: Middle Schoolers Guide to Managing Time (free webinar), August 11 at 11 am (45) mins

September 20 session start date

ISW University: Tutoring: Support during academic year, $90 for 18 sessions, starting September 20, 2021

September 11 (Saturday)

ISW University: Learning how to program a robot using LEGO Mindstorms 4th grade to 7th Grade $80 for 8-10 sessions

ISW University Team

Contact: iswuniversity@iswonline.org

Usha Yadav Advisor

Tanvi Gahlot Registrar/Manager

Poonam Hingorany, ISW Executive Board

Shiamin Melville, Chair, 508-353-4316

ISW Symphony- Palatable Pickles (Achaar making workshop)

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 21:28:49 GMT

Under ISW Symphony's Culinary Arts wing, this very first program of 'Achaar Making workshop' was held at the India Center on July 10th.

The three demonstrators were Reeta Tandon, Suchitra Agrawal and Neena Sehgal.

Reeta ji showed a unique way of making sweet and sour raw mango pickle. The pickle which is very popular to the people who like sweet and especially in the hot summer days this kind of pickle can accompany any menu of the meal.

Suchitra ji revealed a secret traditional with her own creative inputs in the recipe of making 'carrots, cauliflower and turnip sweet and sour pickle'. The pickle itself was looking so tempting that the attendees could not resists but showed an interest to taste it as soon as it got ready.

Neena ji Sehgal started her demonstration by showing a fresh, green chilies to the audience. Many of the attendees asked her that 'isn't it going to be too spicy?' Neenaji answered them very quietly 'you better taste it!'. Believe it or not but when I, myself could taste that 'chilie' with curd rice and realized what she meant to say.. The green chiilies when it got mixed with all other spices and some vinegar sprinkles; diluted the extra spiciness of the chillies .

The overall event was very well appreciated by the 25+ attendees. There is a demand of many more such demo and workshops in this series.

The next one in this Culinary Arts series will be 'South Indian Achaars'. Stay tuned for the more details. Till then, keep cooking!!

--Sarita Deshpande, Chair ISW Symphony

ISW Symphony

Volunteer opportunities at ISW (summary)

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 15:21:36 GMT

- Tanvi Gahlot

My name is Tanvi Gahlot and I am one of the volunteers for ISW. I am going to be going into my sophomore year at WHS. Below I have listed some of the volunteer opportunities at ISW with a small description and links to forms.

1. IYG - https://iswonline.org/page-18066

The Indian Youth Group is a group of 7th-12th graders for the youth, run by the youth. We have meetings once every month and have many volunteer opportunities. Some of these include dance events, walks to raise awareness for issues, and many other fun events. I have been a part of IYG since 7th grade and I have learned a lot and truly enjoyed the whole experience.

If your child is interested please email iyg@iswonline.org for more information and to join.

2. Tutoring- https://iswonline.org/page-18129

ISW has a great program called "ISW University". Currently, over the summer we are running a 8 week long summer camp with subjects ranging from Math and English to Robotics and Coding. Additionally, there is a year long tutoring program where high schoolers can tutor younger kids in varies subjects. I am a tutor year long and am also volunteering for the summer camp, I’ve loved teaching kids a lot since the pandemic hit and this program started.

If your child is interested please email iswuniversity@iswonline.org for more information and to join click here .

3. eSandesh- https://iswonline.org/eSandesh-Newsletter

Each month ISW publishes 2 newsletters. In this newsletter there is a "youth corner" which many high schoolers and middle schoolers volunteer for. I actually write for the eSandesh and do career profiles and interviews of people in different career fields. However, the eSandesh has a variety of topics, such as poems and articles.

If your child is interested in writing for the eSandesh please contact newsletter@iswonline.org, rajmelville@gmail.com , ragoo_93@yahoo.com .

4. Events- https://iswonline.org/page-18090?EventViewMode=1&EventListViewMode=2&SelectedDate=7/8/2021&CalendarViewType=0

Each year ISW has many event would never be as fun without all the hardworking volunteers. Currently, the India Day Event is coming up and we need may volunteers.

India Day Event Information: https://iswonline.org/event-4380319?CalendarViewType=0&SelectedDate=6/8/2021

If your child is interested in volunteering for the ISW India Day Event please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/zR4ygHEuHzi51kKc7

For questions about the India Day Event please contact president@iswonline.org

I hope this helps!

- Tanvi Gahlot

ISW Symphony - Hum Honge Kamyab (Solidarity Event)

Mon, 31 May 2021 17:31:24 GMT

ISW organized an event on May 23rd at the new India Center. The event was organized to give a tribute to the loved ones who were impacted by COVID in India. The musical evening was designed as a gesture of respect to our healthcare professionals and an expression of solidarity and unity. The program was held at the India center with a limited capacity (taking into consideration of state guidelines)
The program opened up with its title song ‘Hum Honge Kamyab’ (we all will overcome these difficult times and will be successful one day). This song was presented and sung by our very own cultural chair ‘Amita Rao and her kids Kian and Tanisha Rao’. ‘Hum Honge Kamyab - portrays a simple fable that regardless of the difficult path ahead of us, we will succeed! The simple poetry by Vasant Bapat with beautiful Marathi words - ‘Gagan Sadan Tejomay - Timir Harun Karunakar’ a prayer was sung by Dr. Vidya Bhide. Many performers, volunteers, and members have got connected to the ISW community during this pandemic. Many distant members from out of Massachusetts, out of the country; were able to be a part of our ISW community during this time when we did many live stream events. Vidya ji Bhide is no exception to this- Dr. Bhide started learning and practicing for her musical love at the age of 60+ and has been keeping herself busy with melody.

A well known Classical music teacher, an entrepreneur and a great vocalist Vandana Rao presented a nice musical rendition of the song ‘Teri Mitti’ from the movie ‘Kesari’. A group of youth artists - Nivetha, Sruthi, Sravya and Pranav offered a beautiful song from the film ‘Razi - Aye Vatan Vatan in the honor of Motherland India. This mellifluous presentation was very well appreciated by the audience. The Shrewsbury School Principal Mr. Jonathan Kelly sent a special message to those whose families / friends have been affected by COVID in India. ISW Language and Culture School students’ devotional bhajan of ‘Hey Ram’ , Mr. Ernest Gulla and Mrs. Manjula’s prayer and text from the Bible were presented to maintain the peace and serenity in the environment of these tough times. Ashita Shekhar talked about the importance of Meditation during these difficult and tough times to keep oneself positive and strong.

ISW School teacher and a passionate Hindi Poet Asha Singh recited a poem, portraying the message ‘Together we will win’. ‘काम हो अच्छे हमारे और नियत साफ हो - a lovely song on Humanity was presented by Dr. Jagan Srinivasan - A professor at WPI who is passionate about music, sports and one of the enthusiastic volunteers of ISW. The great words written by Mahatma Gandhi - ‘Vaishnav Jan To’ were rendered by Sharmishta Bera in her beautiful voice. Nisha Bawa (ISW Religious Chair) performed another sweet bhajan in the line up of the program. Nityajit Hem- a great anchor/ music maker and event manager; recited a poem written by Priya Vaidya ( An engineer by profession but a versatile artist at heart) followed by a Hindi song ‘चलो हसने की कोई वजह ढूंढते है’ (Let’s find a reason to laugh) composed and sung by Sarita Deshpande.
The musical evening was concluded by the chorus ‘We Shall Overcome’ performed by all the committee members to display Unity and Solidarity. The song lyrics were improvised by Aditi Tayler and music arrangement was done by Sarita.
Let’s all hope for the bright light at the end of this tunnel, let’s hold hands together and walk the path ahead with positivity and optimism. The program was conceptualized by Snehalata Kadam and Shiamin Melville and designed by Puneet Kohli and Sarita Deshpande.

ISW University: Summary of webinar on QI (key)communication skills for middle schoolers

Sat, 08 May 2021 19:44:15 GMT

ISW University presented online webinar on QI (key)communication skills for middle schoolers on May 8, 2021.

The Facilitators were Dhruv Jagan and Aashi Gupta, 8th graders, Oak Middle School, Shrewsbury, MA . They give tips on how to strengthen student's confidence in speaking up and communicating. With better communications skills, students will then be less fearful of asking a “wrong question,” or feeling shy about asking a question or making a statement in front of a class. They introduced the concept of Qi (pronounced 'key') skills which are mostly communication skills, but they also included emotional aspects such as confidence and courage. These skills include ME and WE skills.

ME skills are self-management skills and includes keeping track of your work, good behavior, and respecting other people and teachers.
WE skills, or playing Well with others, includes group work, teamwork in sports, and working together with your friends.

The webinar concluded with a Kahoot game, a list of resources for the attendees and feedback from the attendees as they introducted themselves.

Next session is on Time Management in June 2021

Link to the ISW YouTube recording

Consolidated list of COVID Resources (India)

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 16:59:16 GMT

Here's the consolidated list of COVID Resources, complied by Amita Not all have been verified by ISW, this is just a listing

List of Resources: Please send email to Amita if you have others you want to add

ISW Symphony Art Competition

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 01:15:37 GMT

We are happy to announce results of the Art Contest.

Red Group 4-5years

1st place - Ashvika Agrawal
2nd place - Shataneek Dasgupta
3rd place - Arjun Badenehal
Blue Group A 6-8 years
1st place - Aayushi Das Gupta
2nd place - Riana Sukhija
3rd place - Yashika Pal
Blue Group B 6-8 years
1st place - Soumili Dey
2nd place - Sathveega Karthik
3rd place - Prachi Nayak
Yellow Group A 9-12 years
1st place - Mishka Chellappa
2nd place - Ishita Agrawal
3rd place - Saanvi Basu
Yellow Group B 9-12 years

1st place - Tanvi Badenehal

2nd place - Sohan Hegde

3rd place - Jagruti Mazumdar

Green Group 13-17 years
1st place - Esther Antony
2nd place - Smrithi Krishnaswamy
3rd place - Tanushree Nekenti

Congratulations to all the winners!!

ISW Symphony initiative is bringing to you an Art Contest for all ages. The platform is to express all our local artists, artists from all over the country, their inner creativity, emotions through drawing, painting and artwork.

In the effort of giving a platform to artists, Shviangi Das Gupta came up with an idea of Virtual Art Contest.

The concept and idea of this event was seeded by one of our brilliant and ingenious IYG (Indian Youth Group) members - Shivangi Dasgupta. This young lady had worked hard on planning and chalking out the format of the contest, registration form, themes, and many other logistical aspects.

The goal of raising some funds from this event for ISW was visioned by Shivangi and team. The goal was pretty much accomplished.

More than 60 artists participate in the contest. The contest was held via live zoom sessions, when more than 15 IYG volunteers conducted these sessions while contestants were engaged in their creativity on the morning of Saturday April 24th. The contestants were given themes to work on their art and they were working on their art work during this event on Saturday.

ISW is fortunate to have an amazing Judges’ Panel of Avni Chheda, Aradhita Sarkar, Sharmistha Bhattacharya Dutta, Rashmi Pitre, Dr. Java Joshi. (meet our Judges)

The winners will be recognized by certificates and rewards. The winners’ artwork will be published on our website for some period of time.

Our Volunteers

Shviangi Dasgupta - Initiator, Coordinator, Main Lead

Swara Gurao, Prachet Mahawar, Atharv Deshpande, Arnav Sharma, Siddharth Deshmukh, Soumya Warty, Tanvi Gahlot, Pranav Manjrekar, Devishi Jain, Surabhi Dindore

Advisors: Anu Debaroy, Shiamin Melville, Sarita Deshpande

ISW University Summer Camp started June 28th 2021: REGISTRATIONS are closed

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 02:38:18 GMT

ISW University Summer Camp 2021: REGISTRATIONS are now closed

We have summer classes in English, Math, Introduction to Robotics, Arts/Crafts, Scratch Programming etc being scheduled. The cost per class is approx $40 for 8 sessions. If you sign up for two classes, the cost is $80, and so on. The Introductions to Robotics camps is $25 for 5 days. Each class is 45+mins

Camp starts June 28 to August 13 for 8 weeks. The classes are all online.

UPDATE:

For now we have assigned the tutors, who signed up as of May 30, 2021. If you are interested in being a volunteer, you are welcome to enroll, however we are unable to assign any classes to you until we get students to sign up with our current schedule.

Thank you for your interest, and depending on demand Usha Aunty will contact you for an interview.

If you are interested in signing up, register asap

Any questions do contact our Summer 2021 Team, we can add you to our email group.

Usha Yadav, and Kalpana Choudhary

Shiamin Melville, Advisor 508-353-4316

ISW College Connect: Standardized Tests - Everything you need to know

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 00:34:01 GMT

June 12, 2021 College application process: Standardized Tests - Everything you need to know:

Link to ISW YouTube recording.

Speaker: Donna Cox of Cox Tutoring Group:

Donna answered many of the questions parents have about standardized tests and walked the parents and students through a step by step guideline to SAT & ACT tests and spoke to the following:

*Differences between the SAT and the ACT*Timing of tests - when the SAT and ACT are offered and when detailed reports are available

*Timing of prep - when to start, duration of weekly tutoring

*Difference between SAT optional and SAT blind

*Score Choice and Superscore

*ACT single-subject retesting

We heard from Mahathi Gopinath, current HS student and her experience on preparing for the SAT tests, and retakes.
Donna holds a magna cum laude Mathematics degree from Salve Regina University and was a National Merit Finalist. Donna spent the first thirty years of her professional career in the computer industry, as a programmer, a systems analyst, and a trainer. Donna has been preparing students for the SAT and ACT tests since 2003.

Moderators Poonam and Sanjay Hingorany

Please send any questions to collegeconnect@iswonline.org

---Dr. Mayank Jaiswal and Poonam Hingorany

May 22, 2021, Saturday: 11.00 am Financial planning and College Advisors.

Kanan Sachdeva, MBA, CFP®️, ChFC®️, Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual and Patrick Herndon, Certified College Advisor were the panelists. Our moderators were Mayank Jaiswal /Ramendra Chauhan

Recording on ISW Youtube link

April 17, 2021 Summary

College application process: College Essays: Crafting a great college application.

Ms.Susan Goodkin, a graduate of Harvard University, Harvard Law School, and Oxford University, spoke about crafting/creating a great college application. For the college essay, it was key to have a captivating opening sentence plus she cautioned against using humor or dark cynical views. The college counsellor has two minutes to read an essay that the applicant has spent countless hours on, so it is important to be upbeat, and perhaps share what one has learnt from a struggle or a hobby.

For the second half, Dhriti Aiylam, Junior at Northeastern University, Aditya Hoque, Junior at Brown University and Aditya Khanna, Sophomore/Junior at Rochester Institute of Technology shared their personal experiences. In order to view their insights, click here. Session was moderated by Mayank and Shiamin.

From Tanvi, one of the attendees: I thought the personal statement examples that the students as well as Ms. Goodkin gave were really unique and informative. Furthermore, the tips the students gave, to research the college was really helpful. Dhriti’s idea about the specific structure and planning a few sentences about the personal statement and then giving it some time, and also reviewing it with an outsider was really great and helpful.

MARCH 20, 2021 summary

Summary: College Application Process: 'Let's talk ! Keeping the lines of communications open'

---Dr. Mayank Jaiswal and Poonam Hingorany.

Please send any questions to collegeconnect@iswonline.org

We had more than 20 attend the webinar on March 20 as part of ISW's initiative on providing information and support for parents and students whilst they navigate the college application process. Led by Shubh Agrawal, School Counselor, Worcester Academy and IYG Advisor and Ramendra, Ruchi and Yash Chauhan , we delved into how to keep sane and keep family relationships on an even keel throughout the college application process, with emphasis on students in high school. Shubh used the analogy that parent's role at this time is similar to their role when their teenager first learns to drive. The student is in the driver's seat and the parent is there as a guide.

Thoughts shared by Yash Chauhan, Freshman at Northeastern University , Boston

Whether it be debating between taking the SAT or ACT or attempting to figure out the so called “formula” that admission’s departments use, the American college admissions process is already an overly complicated task. However, it is made far more difficult and strenuous when there is a lack of open communication between parent and student. This is especially true for individuals with parents who were brought up in India and as such, are not as familiar with the American application process. In such a situation, the student should realize that when their parents asks them questions about certain aspects of the application, it isn’t due to them attempting to criticize the student or micromanage them, but usually just because they are genuinely curious about the process. Conversely, parents too should understand that this is a process that is primarily incumbent on the student. Although parents should always provide guidance and encouragement, they should never just take over. The skills that students develop during the application process will serve them well in the future, but only if parents let go a little and allow them to go through this experience. Even though parents should not take over, keeping an open dialogue throughout the process such as discussing what the family can afford, allows for students and parents to get the most out of the process while mitigating future conflicts. Finally, it is important to keep in mind that what matters more than where you go college is what you do during your time there; so aim high, but remember that wherever you end up going, you still have the opportunity to accomplish great things.

College Stress Management_Shubh.pdf

Recording

Next sessions are as follows:

Future 2021: High school graduates discuss the process on how they made their college/major selections.

Future 2021: Workshop on College Essays.

College Connect Team

Mayank Jaiswal, Facilitator & Professor at Rider College

Shubh Agrawal, Counselor, Worcester Academy

Poonam & Sanjay Hingorany, parents of undergrad and grad college students

Ramendra & Ruchi Chauhan, parents of middle school and college freshman children

Snehlata & Jagan Srinivasan, parents of middle school students & themselves college professors

Aaryan Bhatt, HS Senior from Harvard, MA.

Shiamin Melville

FREE ONLINE YOGA sessions for adults & youth

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 14:06:08 GMT

FREE ONLINE YOGA open to Adults & Youth 40 mins

Daily 6.30 am Yoga Hemant Gera, disciple of Bharatiya Yog Sansthan, Delhi. WhatsApp contact +91-98102 48623

Mondays 10 am Chair Yoga by Latha Radhakrishnan

Tuesdays 11 am Chairobics by Stuti Khanna

Saturdays 11 am Chairobics by Stuti Khanna

TBD Meditation by Sreedhar Shanmugavelu (Heartfulness.org) WhatsApp contact +1(510) 361-9839

Request to be added to WhatsApp group for above sessions

Ragini Seth 508-330-0884

Shiamin Melville 508-353-4316

For membership information go to www: iswonline.org

In person TBD: India Center, 152 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545

ISW Puzzle Challenge - II

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 14:09:23 GMT

ISW Puzzle Challenge - II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HatYxmulZa8

Over the February vacation week, Feb 12-21, ISW successfully conducted its second Puzzle/Lego Structure Challenge. Due to popular request, we included Lego structures in addition to 1000 piece puzzles. We had over a dozen families participate this time around. Doing the puzzle and building Lego structure gave families a much needed break from screen time after a year long online schooling in the case of most students. The interest in the challenge was so high that many families completed not just one item, but multiple puzzles or Lego structures.

Here are our winners:

1000 piece puzzle:

Beena Krishnan

Debbie Goswami and family

Lego structure:

Moksh Manmode

Arin Shinde

Even though this challenge is over, we strongly encourage families to continue puzzling. We are working on setting up a puzzle exchange at India Center. Thank you to everyone who participated and we look forward to seeing you all soon at our next challenge.

-Puzzle Committee

Harvest Festival - Nartika 2021 (dance contest) winners

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 02:34:17 GMT

ISW Harvest Festival 2021

On Sat, Feb 13, 2021, we kicked off the first major event of the ISW calendar year – The Harvest Festival. And what a great way to start!!

This was our way of beginning the new year with positivity, prosperity and happiness. As per Indian mythology, Harvest festival (which is known by different names in different regions in India) marks the end of an unfavorable phase and the beginning of a holy phase. Particularly in the villages of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Himachal, West Bengal and Punjab, people celebrate the harvesting of new crops with bonfires, carnivals, songs, dances, kite flying and rallies.

For obvious reasons, we could not gather in person as in previous years. However, we invited the extended ISW community to come participate in the cultural event and dance competition virtually. And it was met with tremendous interest.

The event was kicked off virtually and streamed LIVE on ISW’s Facebook page.

The program ran for more than 3 hours and consisted of 35 performances ranging from Indian classical dances to semi classical dances interspersed with Bollywood medleys, poem recitations and even a very lively debate. All the dances were brilliantly choreographed and extremely entertaining to young and old alike.

If you missed the event, you can still view it at the following links -

Live 1 - https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=923983718407338&ref=watch_permalink

Live 2 -https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=901184797402446&ref=watch_permalink

As always, these events are not possible without our ISW family and community participation. Each one of them contributes to the success that we talk about here.

We thank our participants for sharing their talent and love with us.

We thank our judges for sharing their knowledge and time to encourage our participants.

We thank the ISW Cultural committee and our volunteers for putting countless hours into making this event a success.

And we cannot do this without our sponsors, a BIG thank you to them as well.

COngratulations!! Nartika (dance contest) winners!

Semi classical/Bollywood

Classical

Below 9 years:
Ekta Dance Academy - 1st winner
Street Dancers - 2nd winner
Academy of Creative Arts - Little Kids - 3rd winner

9-12 YEARS:

Odhani - 1st winner
Girls on Fire - 2nd winner
Performing Arts of New England - 3rd winner

13-17 years:

Performing Arts of New England - 1st winner
Vande Matram - 2nd winner
Girls of the Galaxy - 3rd winner

18+ years:

Boston Desi Hoppers - 1st winner
The Dholikaars - 2nd winner
Hellaro - 3rd winner

Below 9 years:

Amudhasri Dance School - 1st winner
Mona's Dance Academy - 2nd winner

9-12 years:

Upasana - 1st winner
Amudhasri dance school - 2nd winner
Amudhasri dance school - 3rd winner

13-17 years:

Performing Arts of New England - 1st winner

SAYAA at ISW marks Black History Month Movie Night Feb 20 SATURDAY 7 pm

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 21:28:06 GMT

Please use this link to Donate for this event only via credit card

https://iswonline.org/page-18126

SCENER link

https://scener.com/keerthanab5?eventId=71105

if you click the link it will automatically lead you to create an account which takes only a few seconds!

With February marking Black History Month, it’s more important than ever to recognize the ways we can use our resources to help aid racial equity efforts. Throughout the month of February, SAYAA is encouraging those who can to donate to organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club of Worcester. Donating helps those who are disproportionately affected by economic downturns, and even a small amount can go a long way.

SAYAA will screen "13th" in an online Movie Night. We would love to have you, your family, and your friends join us! Funds raised will be donated to The Boys and Girls Club of Worcester (https://www.bgcworcester.org/).

SAYAA South Asian Activists and Allies at ISW is dedicated to disseminating resources about important social justice and racial equity initiatives while also increasing our own self-reflection of the role South Asian communities can play in supporting social justice and promoting activism to combat such trends.

If you are between the ages of 15-35 and are interested in joining us or learning more, please contact sayaa.eb@iswonline.org with any questions or inquiries.

Navigating the College Application Process Webinar January 23, 2021

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 15:51:21 GMT

January 23, 2021

The webinar was held on January 23, 2021, with 57+ attendees. It was a 90-minute webinar, the first part was an information presentation led by Dr. Mayank Jaiswal as the facilitator and Ms. Shubh Agrawal. It was followed by a question and answer session with a parents’ panel comprising Poonam & Sanjay Hingorany, Snehlata & Jagan Srinivasan, Ramendra & Ruchi Chauhan, and Aaryan Bhatt.

Mayank took the discussion through the step by step process of applying for college. He compared the process akin to presenting a bouquet of flowers where different flowers take different amounts of time to bloom, where the charm of each flower is best brought out by the careful nurturing during different phases of its horticultural cycle. It is important to track what interests the child, how s/he spends his/her free time, and Mayank gave suggestions on exposing the child through micro internships to different experiences or doing an assessment through the ‘Innate’ website.

To help in choosing the right fit with a college, he suggested research using the MYFIT option in US News and choosing different kinds of volunteer opportunities to build up credibility in defining the student goals.

The slide presentation outlined the many moving parts of the college admission process, and the session addressed topics such as school grades, standardized tests, essays, extracurriculars, and financials. Shubh stressed the importance of ensuring the children's wellbeing throughout the process. The panelists had children ranging from the middle school to high school to college graduates and they offered brief insights into the admissions process, how to plan on saving for college and help families navigate the college selection process with minimal stress.

The survey results confirmed the need for more information on Financial Aid, test preparation and volunteer opportunities. There was an interest in hearing from high school graduates on how they navigated their volunteer work and chose their college and their major.

As a follow-up, we are proposing mini seminars on various topics of interest. We have also created a network of parents and students via iswcollegeconnect@googlegroups.com, in the hope that we can create a community support framework for the families navigating this process.

Upcoming Seminars: Saturdays 3.30 pm February - July 2021

Overview Session (repeat of January 23 Session): July 2021: – free for all attendees

Tentative Monthly: Mini Sessions - Free

1. Financial planning and college coaches.

2. Mental Wellness and time management.

3. Essay & Resume writing.

4. How to tackle Standardized Tests and College Interviews.

5. High school graduates discuss their college/major selections.

6. Negotiation and comparison of college financial packages and fees between big-name colleges and in-state colleges and universities.

College Connect Team

Mayank Jaiswal, Facilitator & Professor at Rider College

Shubh Agrawal, Counselor, Worcester Academy

Poonam & Sanjay Hingorany, parents of undergrad and grad college students

Ramendra & Ruchi Chauhan, parents of middle school and college freshman

Snehlata & Jagan Srinivasan, parents of middle school & themselves college professors

Aaryan Bhatt, HS Senior from Harvard, MA.

Shiamin Melville

Attachments

PDF of Slides

Link to ISW YouTube Zoom recording.

Please send any questions to collegeconnect@iswonline.org

----------Dr. Mayank Jaiswal and Poonam Hingorany.

ISW Puzzle Session 2 challenge, starting Feb 12

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 17:20:26 GMT

ISW Puzzle Session 2 challenge for vacation week. begins February 12 at 5 pm. and ends February 21, 2021 at 5 pm. Last time 21 families joined, and we hope to start a puzzle exchange library in ISW Puzzles (Whatsapp group), so do contact us soon. Send a picture of the new puzzle to snehalata.kadam@gmail.com & lucky.hoque@gmail.com on Feb 12 and your phone number.

There will be public recognition for (a) the first completed puzzle/Lego, and (b) the most complicated puzzle/Lego. So 4 non-monetary prizes.

Last challenge was a lot of fun.

A 1000 piece puzzle or Lego can be used.

---Snehalata Kadam & Lucky Hoque

Puzzling with Puzzles

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 15:03:35 GMT

Puzzling with Puzzles ----Snehal Kadam

As a parent, how many of you have bought the world map and map of India to hang it in your family room? Well I have! The hope was that my kids will look at it often. Clearly, I wasn’t right about it. And one fine day, I saw my friend finishing a very complex 1000 piece world map puzzle. Looking at the intricacy of the puzzle, gave me an idea. How better to educate my kids about geography of the world and reduce their screen time! :) It seemed like the perfect fun family activity. One problem though, how do I get my kids interested in this and yet make it engaging? I decided that having a reward-based puzzle competition sounded a great idea. Incentives are a good way of getting kids engaged in activities that are usually dealt with groans and whys!!

We all know puzzles have many benefits like:

1) it improves your short-term memory.

2) it exercises the left and right sides of your brain at once, (thanks to my neuroscientist hubby!)

3) improves your visual-spatial reasoning,

4) a great meditation tool and stress reliever

5) a great way to connect with family

6) great for some needed alone time

7) And You'll live longer

My biggest bane as a teacher/mother/parent is getting into the winter vacation and having my whole family stuck to electronics. So the idea of getting away from the electronics accompanied with the puzzle competition made perfect sense. I borrowed the puzzle from my friend, Lucky and decided to get started with the kids. We even cleared out our kitchen island and all of us got together to separate the puzzle pieces. The task though overwhelming was a challenge as the first day was spent more about strategizing how to solve it. I was surprised to see each member of the family come up with different ideas. As we got on solving the puzzle, little did I realize that it was so much fun and rewarding to even figure out where a single piece went. Days went by and the puzzle started to come together. The smiles and discussions that went on the kitchen island was music to my ears. Remember all this went on with a 3 year old tugging our PJs to find out what the fun was ! So by the 6 th day, we had solved almost all of the puzzle, I mean we had 999 pieces on the board. But we were unable to find the last piece. The whole house got searching for the missing piece. Frustrations rose among the kids and us, as to where could the last piece have gone. Little did we all know that our 3-year old wanted to be involved in the puzzle. She had carefully hid the last piece in the partition of our sofa! Once found, the smiles returned and she placed the final piece in the right spot. The joy of a completed puzzle bought out our inner child and we all gave ourselves a group hug !

When I decided to start the competition, I did not imagine so many families joining in. The excitement in the community was amazing as 21 families participated in the competition. Some of the families even rushed to buy the puzzles to participate in this fun family event. One common message I got from all families was how this brought all of us from their screens to the dining and kitchen tables as a family! So thank you to all who participated. Happy New Year to all of you and may we solve many more puzzles in the coming year!

1.Kinkin Kumari and Divya Singh

2. Lazers: Yajas and Sai

3. The Piparia sisters

4. Shaurya and Suhani Aditi Jain

5. Deshpande family

6. Navin Jain Family: Dhruv and Rishi !1st Dec24th)

7. Gupta Girls (4th)

8. Shiamin and Raj Melville

9. Dhruv Arush Urvi & Jagan

10. Lucky Hoque

11. Tanushree Nekenti

12. Dixit Brothers

13. Rajit and Kashvi Naik (3rd Dec 25th 7 PM)

14. Anika and Rohan Savla (Yashodhara)

15. Shilpa Nikte (2nd Dec25th 330PM)

16. Anu Melville and Jack Saxe Staral

17. Ayan Mishra (Neha)

18. Khanna (Stuti)

19. Peerzade's (Sahar)

20. Karishma Babani (Manju)

21. Mukta Munjal

WINNERS

Puzzles are fun and a great way to pass time when you are bored. They are also challenging as they make you think how to put pieces in the right place and forces you to look carefully for differences in the pieces. The puzzle we solved was named “The Mystic Maze”. We really enjoyed solving the puzzle as it was mysterious with a lot of very small details and a lot of different colors. We had a lot of fun doing the puzzle as a family!
– Dhruv (9) and Rishi (12) Jain. They have donated the gift card to the ISW’s Crisis Committee’s fundraising efforts. So inspiring

We enjoyed doing our first 1,000 piece puzzle (star wars). It was challenging but our family had a good time. In the beginning me and my sister organized the puzzle pieces based on color, borders, faces etc. This method helped us to focus and sort out where everything goes. Thank you for hosting this event! It was a great experience! -- Rajit & Kashi Naik. They have donated the gift card to the ISW’s Building Committee’s fundraising efforts. So inspiring

ISW Nominating Committee presents the Slate for 2021-22

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 17:30:24 GMT

ISW Nominating Committee would like to announce the elections for the 2021-22 Executive Board and Governance Committee. The nominating committee would like to present the following slate:

Slate of Candidates

President		Mr. Puneet Kohli I am a life member of ISW, serving the community for past 12+ years. I live in Grafton with my wife, son, daughter and parents. My son is doing is undergrad at UCSD. As part of ISW community I have had the honor to volunteer and lead many community serving activities at ISW from cultural to strategic to logistical. As member of the Executive board for over 12 years I hope to continue to serve ISW and community. Being a software engineer by profession I hope to continue to help connect ISW to larger community in Greater Boston area.
Vice President		Dr. Jagan Srinivasan My name is Jagan Srinivasan and I am a resident of Shrewsbury for the past 8 years. Since our arrival here, most members of my family have been involved in volunteering at various cultural activities organized by ISW. I have 2 boys and a lovely 3 year old girl. My wife Snehal and I have been part of ISW community for past 8 years and have active volunteers for ISW and many other community activities.
General Secretary		Mr. Balki Chandrakasan Balki Chandrakasan currently lives in North Grafton, MA with his wife and two kids . I have been very active in community volunteering in various organizations and associated with ISW for the last 12+ years . He started with ISW language school teaching Tamil for several years and later became part of ISW executive board for the last 4 years .He is always interested in connecting with people and working to bring the Indian community together Balki is a Senior Technology Professional and working for Charles River Labs .
Asst. General Secretary		Mr. Manoharan Ganapathy I am living in Massachusetts for more than 12 years, from a small town near Chennai, Tamil Nadu and residing in Shrewsbury with my family. I am very passionate about service and giving back to my community. I have been active in many nonprofit organizations for the past 6 years. Glad to be part of the ISW family.
Treasurer		Mr. Rajesh Khare Rajesh is currently serving as the Treasurer of ISW (2019-2020). Rajesh has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2018 and has been an active member for many years. Rajesh has volunteered at many events/activities like Westborough/Shrewsbury parades, Language School, India Day, Diwali at WAM etc. He lives in Westborough with his wife Arti and 2 kids. Both kids attend the Marathi school at ISW
Asst. Treasurer		Mrs. Poonam Hingorany Poonam has been volunteering at the India Society of Worcester since the mid 2000’s and held a position on the Executive Board as the IYG Advisor from 2014 to 2018. She is serving as Assistant Treasurer on the current Executive Board. Poonam has a master’s degree in Accounting and an MBA from Framingham State University. She lives in Grafton, MA with her husband Sanjay and daughters Sneha and Pooja who both have been students and then student teachers of the ISW Cultural school and IYG Board members. Poonam enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, trying out new dishes and staying active
Chair, Cultural Committee		Mrs. Amita Rao Amita has been part of ISW serving in many roles as a volunteer. Her passion to volunteer and help drive many of the events has made her contribution to ISW valuable. She lives in Westborough with her husband, son & daughter who all are active volunteers in many ISW
Chair, Religious Committee		Mrs. Nisha Bawa Namaste !! My name is Nisha Bawa & I am a life member of India society of Worcester. I have severed on ISW committee in various capacities. I am honored to be nominated to server as religious committee chair person for the second year.
Chair, Language & Cultural Committee		Mrs. Ruchi Chauhan Ruchi and her husband Ramendra live in Shrewsbury, MA with their older son, Yash, who is a freshman in Northeastern University and their younger son, Kunal, who is currently in 8th grade. Both have been students at the ISW school as well as IYG members. She currently has been working at Floral Street School and is very passionate about working with kids. She started at ISW Language school as a volunteer Hindi teacher. Currently, as a Co-Director, she is responsible for over 140 students that attend five language classes on Saturday and Sunday, organizing classes for 11 different grades in 5 diverse languages, and recruiting over 40 volunteers that teach the sessions. For 2020, during the COVID lockdown, she helped create Masti Mazaa classes - free online classes for kids where they participated in different activities like origami, math, english, cooking, etc. During 2020, the online language classes and the one-on-one tutoring classes by IYG members, have helped the ISW community operate in response to the COVID-19 lockdown, thereby continuing ISW’s work in the community.
Chair, India Center Rental Committee		Mr. Shri Garg I have been a volunteer of ISW since 1981 or so. During this time I have served ISW in several positions such as Assistant Secretary, Scholarship Committee chair, IYG Adviser, President, Chair, Board of Trustees. For the last 3 years or so I am serving ISW as Chair, India Center Committee. I would like to continue my job for the next term also. I hope ISW has liked my service in previous years. I would like to do a much better job in the coming years. It is always my privilege to serve ISW and I am thankful to the ISW community for its trust in me.
Member-At-Large		Mr. Arvind Basil I was born in India in 1960, married to Anita in 1987. Blessed with daughters Shruti and Kirti (who are now Physicians ) in 1988 and son Amogh ( presently a Junior in Assumption College)in 1999. I moved to USA in 2003. I have been an entrepreneur through out my life. I presently live in Auburn and own the UPS store at Westborough. I have been part of several social organizations: I volunteered with Mother Teresa at her orphanage home in Calcutta and had the privilege of being blessed by her personally. I was part of the executive committee for the Indian Chapter of United Nations Youth Organization and also attended conferences at UNO headquarters I was the District Chairman of Lions Blood Bank and Eye Operation Committee I was the President of Lions Club in Kolkata I was also the President of Lions Club of Oxford I am presently Chairman of Awareness Committee of Lions District 33A I was also associated with several other social organizations. I have received several achievement awards, one being given to me by the Prime Minister of India for starting and successfully running the best water purification plant in India. My thought of life is “ Together we can make our surroundings a better place to live by serving our Society and the needy”
Member-At-Large		Mrs. Suchitra Agarwal Suchitra Agrawal has been a resident of Shrewsbury for over 32 years. She graduated with a Masters's degree in English Literature from the University of Rajasthan and has done her schooling at Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls Public School in Jaipur. She has been a lifetime member of ISW for 20 years and has actively participated in various roles throughout the organization. These roles include participation in the Religious Committee, the Rental Committee, the School Committee, and she has most recently served as a Member-At-Large. She has been a Hindi K-1 language teacher since 2007 and has been passionate about introducing the youngest language students to the Hindi School. She has also served as a member of Bancroft School's PTA and has supported the Shrewsbury Public Libary in their volunteer and community outreach endeavors. She has always found joy in volunteering for community and educational organizations, particularly working with senior citizens and young children, and often combines her interests from running a local knitting group to collecting food and clothes for charities. Among her proudest achievements is watching her two children progress through the Hindi School and become language teachers themselves before graduating. She finds true pleasure in being part of ISW and is always willing to do whatever it takes to serve the community. She currently resides in Shrewsbury with her husband.
Member-At-Large		Mr. Kamlesh Khilnani Born and raised in Mumbai, living in Marlborough, MA now with my wife, Preeti (also from Mumbai) and two boys, Arnav and Jeet. ISW has been a great find for our family, making great connections, having the resources to expose our kids to some cultural activities, language school and the new state of the art India center.
Member-At-Large		Mrs. Sakshi Garao My name is Sakshi Gurao and living in Shrewsbury from last seven years. I am an accountant by profession. With great interest in social activities, I joined Spirit of Shrewsbury Fall Festival in town and currently working as a volunteer Treasurer position in the organization. I have various interest mainly in art, dance, music, and cooking. I am trained traditional Indian dancer.
Member-At-Large		Mrs. Bhawna Sadhu My name is Bhawna Sadhu. I am originally from Kashmir and came to the United States in the year 1999. My husband Sandeep and I moved to Shrewsbury in 2002 and since then we have enjoyed our stay in Massachusetts along with our two daughters Yashna (Junior )and Diya (Freshman) in high school. I have over 15 years of experience working in the IT industry. I look forward to be part of ISW team and serve my community in whatever way I can.

The committee nominates the following members for Committee on Governance :

Mr. Rajiv Dayal (Chair)

Rajiv Dayal is a partner in a CPA firm in Boston. He lives in Shrewsbury with his wife Priti. They both love to spend time with their children, their granddaughter and the expanded ISW family. Rajiv has been a very active volunteer in ISW for the past 20+ years. He was the Treasurer for 10 years and the then President for four years ending in 2016. He is currently the Chair of the Building Expansion Committee and overseeing the construction of the expanded India Center. Over the years he has also been actively involved with other non-profit organizations and has held leadership positions with the local council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Mr. Ashish Cowlagi

Ashish Cowlagi is a life member of ISW and has been part of ISW for over 20 years. Recently in his role of President of ISW, Ashish has been integral part of the team on creating a strategy for expansion and future of ISW. Ashish lives in Shrewsbury with his wife Aarthi, son and daughter, who all are avid volunteers with ISW.

Mrs. Meera Gupta

Meera Gupta has served the ISW Community in various roles for over 30 years. She worked as an Architect and Builder for many years. Meera currently ownsAunty G's, an Indian Street Food and Ice Cream Restaurant with her husband in Marlboro, MA. She was the First Woman President of ISW from 2005-2008. Also, she was adevoted Religious Committee Chair and Chair of India Center Committee for several years. Meera is committed to being a loyal member of India Society of Worcester for years to come.

If you have any questions, please send an email to nominationcommittee@iswonline.org

Sincerely,

ISW Committee on Nominations

Renuka Garg(Chair), Barin Bando, Carolyn Passey, Sonal Koppikar, Shaikh Hoque

ISW Seeking nominations for 2021-22 EB & Governance Committee

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 16:13:02 GMT

The Committee on Nomination of India Society of Worcester is pleased to announce the upcoming General Body meeting and Elections to be held on Sunday, January 31, 2021* at 2 PM at India Center (152 Main Street, Shrewsbury, MA)

The committee solicits nomination for all the following 15 positions of the Executive Board for a term of 2 years starting January 2021.

President
Vice President
General Secretary
Assistant General Secretary
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer
Chair of Cultural Committee
Chair of Religious Committee
Chair of Cultural School Committee
Chair of India Center Committee
Five Members-at-large

In addition, the committee solicits names for the nomination for all the 3 Positions of Governance Committee for a term of 2 years starting January 2021.

Please use the online form to submit your nominations - Nominate Here

Included below are eligibility requirements that must be met for all nominations

A person nominated for a post in the Executive Board shall be a dues paying member of the Society for at least one full year prior to the election date. In addition, a person nominated for the position of the President and Vice-President shall meet the following requirements:

For President: Two years experience as a member of the Executive Board or past Committee or as member of the past Board of Trustees or as a chairperson of a standing committee.
For Vice President: Two years experience as an active participant of any of the committees or Subcommittees of the Society.
For Committee of Governance: Thorough knowledge of the Constitution and Bylaws of the ISW and should be familiar with the parliamentary rules of conducting meetings understanding of Bylaws of nonprofit organizations

You can nominate yourself or any eligible members for the open positions. To nominate a person to one of the positions, please use the online form by clicking here on or before November 22nd, 2020.

Once the nominations are received, the nomination committee will create a slate of prospective candidates to be appointed for all the posts. This slate will be available to the general public on or before January 13th 2021. Please look for the slate in your email and on our website www.ISWOnline.org.

Please email the nomination committee nominationcommittee@iswonline.org), if you any queries about the slate or the nomination process. (you can also reach Renuka Garg @ 508 523 6664). Nominating Committee members include -

(Renuka Garg, Barin Bando, Shaikh Hoque, Carolyn Passey, Sonal Koppikar)

* Date is subject to change based on the COVID-related restrictions and construction schedule at India Center.

ISW August 15th Flag Hoisting

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 17:26:52 GMT

SW Participated with town officials at city of Worcester, Town of Shrewsbury & Town of Grafton along with other partner organizations(IAGB, BVIS) to hoist Indian National flag to celebrate India's 74 years of independence. The volunteers of ISW were on site along with city officials to hoist the flags and stream the event live of facebook. Check out the videos link here. Worcester, Shrewsbury

ISW hosts Virtual India Day 2020

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 18:03:15 GMT

Thirty One years that’s how long we’ve been hosting India day at India Society of Worcester or ISW. What started back in 1989 in the halls of Worcester auditorium, no one could have imagined that one day it would be streaming live from someone’s home office, being watched by hundreds of people on their devices, enjoying amazing dancers perform in their living rooms, backyards, parks or sometime on the roads.

The year 2020 has shown us a new normal, in which ISW has broken all barriers to bring to the community not 1 or 2 but multiple live online events from Antakshri to art night to yoga and now a 3 day, 5 session virtual India Day event .

So once again from bottom of my heart thank you to all my fellow ISWers who made this event possible & to all the dancers, singers and teachers, to our community and above all to all of you the audience who boost our spirits by liking, sharing and commenting on our posts and videos and encouraging us to make ISW a home away from home for many of us. So with that I invite you to Please watch all the videos we are sharing in this special edition and share, comment and like us on FB. Check out our special India Day page.

Happy Independence Day Jai Hind.

Puneet Kohli, VP ISW, Chair India Day

SAYAA Panel on '"Racial Solidarity as South Asians"

Sat, 08 Aug 2020 18:07:00 GMT

Panel on '"Racial Solidarity as South Asians"

As part of India Day, a committee of young adults hosted a panel discussion on '"Racial Solidarity as South Asians". The group, called SAYAAA, are part of the second generation of ISW community members who on their own have raised their voices by organizing vigils, posting on FB and hosting podcasts and writing articles. They discussed how they educated themselves, strategies to combat racism and how to get more involved in the future. Click here to read more about the session, watch the panel video and take the survey if your would like to learn more and join.

SAAYA Committee: Shubh Agrawal, Keerthana Balakrishnan, Danush Chelladurai, Tanvi Jain, Aditya Khanna, Kavya Raghunathan, Aarshiya Sachdeva
Advisors: Raj & Shiamin Melville

SAYAA, South Asian Youth Activists and Allies Initiative by the new ISW Young Professionals group

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 18:52:58 GMT

SAYAA, South Asian Youth Activists and Allies
An Initiative by the new ISW Young Professionals group

We are excited to announce a new ISW group to reach out to young professionals of South Asian descent.

The first activity is committed to social justice and racial equity initiatives in the South Asian community. SAYAA, or "South Asian Youth Activists and Allies", is sending out a survey to gauge the interest in pursuing this endeavour. Click here to take it. SAAYA also plans to host an online discussion about these issues.

The group - through dialogues, education, disseminating of resources, and engaging with peers and the wider South Asian community - hopes to advance the mission of organizing social justice activism, standing in solidarity with Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) peers and self-reflecting on the community’s role in perpetuating injustice within the South Asian community.

The group is very interested in working with individuals ages 14-35. If one is outside this age range but would like to provide opinions/suggestions, one can still access the shared knowledge and resources. Please forward the survey to young professionals you might know. For any additional questions or information, please email: SAAYA@ISWOnline.org

SURVEY https://bit.ly/SAYAASurvey

SAAYA Committee: Shubh Agrawal, Keerthana Balakrishnan, Danush Chelladurai, Tanvi Jain, Aditya Khanna, Kavya Raghunathan, Aarshiya Sachdeva
Advisors: Raj & Shiamin Melville

ISW Expansion is in full swing

Sat, 27 Jun 2020 13:52:46 GMT

Dear friends,

Hope you and your family are doing well during these difficult times. Please let us know if ISW can do anything to help you in any way.

For the India Society, one of our biggest efforts this year is the expansion of the India Center. We were writing to give you an update on the progress.

India Center Construction:

After “Bhoomi Poojan” ceremony in October, we started full steam ahead on construction. The foundation was poured in December, steel for the building was ordered, and plans and paperwork for building permit were submitted to Town of Shrewsbury. The plan was to start the site work in March. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit us hard, all non-essential commercial construction was halted by orders of the Governor, permits were delayed, and work at ISW came to a screeching halt.

The Expansion Committee along with general contractor and architect continued to meet on a weekly basis, and the slowdown gave us an opportunity to make improvements, especially in design of the lobby that we have named India Pavilion, but overall construction plans suffered a significant setback. As phase two of reopening has started in Massachusetts, we are happy to inform you that we are back on track for construction. Town of Shrewsbury has issued the building permit. Remodeling of the old lobby is already underway. The steel structure will go up soon and current plans are to have the construction completed by November.

You can see more pictures and drone video of the construction made by our outgoing India Youth Group (IYG) president Raunit Kohli, here

Fundraising:

Unfortunately, we have not been able to do much fundraising over last several months. Our plan was to focus our efforts on gala at Mechanics hall in June with a prominent Indian artist, but that has now postponed to at least 2021. Some of you have been extremely generous in their offer of providing us a loan, and we certainly intend to take advantage of that offer. At the same time, to ensure cash flow, we have signed up with DCU for a construction loan. We are hoping to minimize the amount that we have to borrow, and a lot will depend on funds received against our current pledges as well as new pledges we are able to generate.

We want to thank those of you who have shown great support of the project by making significant pledges. Many of you have made a full payment against your pledge and others are making payments over a three-year period.

Many of you have may also know others who are on the fence in terms of making a pledge or increasing your own pledge waiting to see the actual construction started. Please reach out to any one of us and we will be happy to meet with you personally.
If you have made a pledge, but have not fully paid your pledge, may we request you to make a payment sooner if you can?

Thank you again for your contributions!

Sincerely,

Ashish Cowlagi, President ISW
Rajiv Dayal, Chair, Expansion Committee
Sanjay Shah, Chair, Fundraising Committee

Free Dance for Fun virtual class

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 20:01:02 GMT

ISW & Ekta Jain brings you Free Dance for fun virtual class. Join for an an hour of fun and exciting dance class. Learn at your own pace. See the details in the flyer below.

A Prayer for Our Times

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 11:23:36 GMT

As I reflect on the events of the last several weeks, I am drawn to Rabindranath Tagore’s stirring prayer:

While tempting to turn to prayer, the recent events call for reflection, learning and action. The continued acts of violence against people of color is unacceptable and inexcusable. We are saddened by the countless lives taken and the racist incidents across the country. That is not enough. Today we have to rise up and stand in solidarity with the Black community and say together that Black Lives Matter.

We are an organization of immigrants whose mission includes building bridges with the communities we live in. In this moment we need to reflect on the privileges we enjoy from equitable immigration, an outcome of the Civil Rights Movement. We need to reexamine our own biases which, while different and based on our own cultural roots, may also color our interactions with other people of color. We need to reaffirm our commitment to work toward a more fair, equitable and just society in the country we have adopted.

Many of us grew up outside America. Our individual experiences have shaped our perceptions of our adopted home. However, this is a time to broaden our knowledge and to examine our own biases. With that in mind, some of our volunteers and board members have contributed to building a reading list below. These links are not as an endorsement of the authors, but differing perspectives that we hope will inform your own opinions. We encourage you to begin your own conversations with your family and friends about the current state of racism in our country and the path forward.

For our youth, I know that these conversations have already started. We will include their own activities and perspectives in our next issue of eSandesh.

ISW has been and is committed to serving every part of our community, regardless of language, religion or ethnicity. We will also continue to remain true to our founding principle as a non-political organization while we redouble our efforts to build bridges with the communities we live in, including the Black and LatinX communities.

I hope you will join us in this conversation as we continue to pray for good health, peace and a more equitable future for all of us.

Respectfully,

Ashish Cowlagi

President, India Society of Worcester

A Suggested Reading List

Dear Mom, Dad, Uncle, Auntie: Black Lives Matter to Us, Too from the Medium
An informational letter to the South Asian Community by Kavya Balaji et al. answers “why should we care?’
Indians' Debt to Black America an article by Neil Padukone describes how the civil rights movement has led to equitable immigration and immigrants rights.
Sesame Street Town Hall on "Standing Up to Racism"
Talking to Kids About George Floyd - Child Mind Institute
How to Talk to your Children About Protests and Racism
From Teaching Tolerance A PARENT'S GUIDE to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice
From Harvard University: Black Lives Matter: Antiracism and Health Suggested Resources
From Harvard’s Kennedy School of Public administration: A movement greater than this tragic moment
On Netflix - the 13th, a documentary - may not be suitable for younger audiences.
We Cannot Stay Silent About George Floyd by Hasan Minaj (may not be suitable for younger audiences)

[Thanks to many friends, board members and volunteers for their help in building this conversation and in helping find resources.]

Call for stories

Fri, 15 May 2020 14:10:35 GMT

It is a time in our community when everyone is finding ways to help each other, show their appreciation to those on the front lines or just finding ways to support the loved ones. We want to hear your stories, pictures, videos, music etc. Please use the link below to submit your content and our editorial board will select them for posting on ISW media sites.

Click here to submit content

ISW Launches multiple LGBTQ+ Support Networks

Wed, 06 May 2020 01:03:15 GMT

ISW Launches multiple LGBTQ support networks

ISW LGBTQ+ Youth Support Network
The ISW LGBTQ+ Youth support network seeks to provide an in-person and online group of supportive peers, and is open to anyone between 13 and 24 years of age. A meeting place is yet to be decided. Each meeting will occur periodically, and will be hosted by a program facilitator. The format of the meetings will be an open forum for general support and discussion of topics raised by attendees, as well as some fun activities to encourage discussion and friendship. Additionally, program facilitators will be equipped with referrals to other appropriate service organizations. An online, informal WhatsApp group will be made available to be joined at the discretion of attendees.

For more information send email to lambda@iswonline.org

ISW Family of LGBTQ+ Support Network
The ISW Family of LGBTQ+ Support Network is a support group for family members of LGBTQ+ people meeting periodically. The aim of the support group is to provide an open forum for the discussion of touching issues raised by the intersection of Indian culture and LGBTQ+ people. An adult facilitator will be present to lead discussion and provide referrals to pertinent resources.

For more information, send email to friends_of_lambda@iswonline.org

ISW Cultural School goes online

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 13:19:53 GMT

Are we happy about online class ? Are we happy about not seeing kids in the classroom ?

I will start with big YES . This YES is because everyone’s health is the first priority . Teacher is like a second parent to the kids . As parents can think only good about their kids . We teachers also give our heart and soul to show right direction to the kids how they can progress . And their progress is totally depend on they being healthy. So YES we should be happy though we can’t see them as staying home can keep them safe and healthy .

Every Sunday we see their smiling face and sitting healthy to attend the online class and believe me we can’t ask more than that . They are our future and we have to keep our future safe and protected .

YES we are happy with online class as learning new stuff is always interesting and it excites me . We learned to use new app and how to easily execute it so we can run online classroom smoothly .

We are teachers so we can’t loose our hope in any circumstances . Our mental strength, our support and positive thinking will give a better future to this little hearts . I must say WE TEACHERS ROCK !!

Check out more pictures below.

https://www.facebook.com/iswonline/posts/2849518711803947

Free Telemed clinic

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 14:49:18 GMT

All free medical programs are closed to in-person visits untilfurther notice due to COVID epidemic. Telephone and video visits are available:

Acute and chronic medical concerns
Medication refills
Health screenings (in place of physicals)

Call or connect with a webcam during normal clinic hours

Monday through Thursday 6-8pm

You can reach us online via zoom on PC, Mac, iOS, or Android at the following address:

https://umassmed.zoom.us/my/wfcc2020

Telephone Line:

+1 646 876 9923 (US Toll)

Meeting ID: 648 474 7585 #

Connect by computer or call the phone number above. Enter the “meeting ID” number plus #. You will be connected to a member of our team, but you may be placed on hold.

COVID-19 Update

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 12:18:38 GMT

As you know, the ISW Executive Board has been monitoring the updates on the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Today, we have decided to cancel or postpone most in-person ISW events till the end of April.

What is Changing ?

Showcase India - hosted by the Indian Youth Group has been postponed. The IYG team is currently reassessing their plans - please stay tuned.

Ramnavmi 2020 celebrations are cancelled for this year

Humrahee meetings for March and April have been cancelled. We are exploring the possibility of having virtual meetings in the interim.

ISW Cultural School classes in the India Center are cancelled through April. We are exploring the possibility of having virtual classes in the interim. Parents, please watch for an email from the ISW School Director soon.

Yoga and Meditation classes will be cancelled through April.

Free Health Stop has been cancelled through April to protect patients and the volunteer doctors. We do not have the ability to conduct COVID-19 tests.

New India Center Construction: Currently, we don't believe there will be significant impact to the construction calendar, but we will be monitoring this situation in partnership with our General Contractor

Information Resources, Where to get help :

All our resources have pointed us to the CDC website as the primary and most reliable source of information.

For the most timely from updates from ISW - please connect with one of our social media channels : Like us on Facebook or Join the ISW Volunteers Whatsapp group.

If you know of families who need specific help - please reach out via one of the social media channels above or contact me directly.

How Can I Help ?

As we go through this pandemic, we will have to support and be there for each other. I am confident that the ISW family will be a source of strength for our entire extended local community.

We have reached out to the town of Shrewsbury and the local regional health alliance to ask if there is any way we can help. If we hear of any specific actions - we will share them via our social media channels above.

Please stay safe.

Harvest Festival

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 16:05:46 GMT

ISW Celebrated a unity of Indian Festivals on Februray 8th at Oak Middle School. Harvest Festival 2020 brings up this year's first ever Dance Competition along with other cultural programs.

ISW Annual Diwali 2019

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 21:35:44 GMT

ISW Hosted its 2019 Diwali Show on Nov 9th at Oak Middle School. The event was attended by close to 400 people from the community.

Some quotes from our volunteers: