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.

--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

- 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.

- 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

- 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.

-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

- 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, which 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 for Diwali Lights