- 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

 - 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!

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. 

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 to Tower Hill.  There are NO free passes for special event, whihc includes ISW Diwali.  You are welcome to visit any other day  for free and enjoy the garden.

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

2025 Night Lights: November 22, 2025–January 4, 2026 | 4-10 PM Daily
More info to follow on 2025 Diwali Lights : Tickets goes on sale for Garden Members on October 15 and for the general public on October 24. (and even earlier for Diwali for ISW Members on October 8, 2025 PM)

There are no FREE passes  except for performers

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.

          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:

--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.

- 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!

- 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.

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