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:

--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.

-----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 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 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/

--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.

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

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.

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

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.”