WORCESTER, MA—-With several hundred performers and an expected 6,000 to 8,000 people, the India Society of Worcester, known as ISW, will celebrate 28th annual India Day celebration on Saturday, Aug. 13, at DCU Center in Worcester, MA.
“India Day will be bigger this year than ever before. This is the second year that this 28 year old program goes back to the DCU Center venue and brings various regional organizations and community volunteers from over 20 Indian states into the fold,” ISW President Rajiv Dayal told INDIA New England News. “The event is a part of an ambitious growth plan of the India Society to serve the rapidly growing Indian community in Massachusetts.”
ISW, one of New England’s most vibrant Indian associations, is primarily a cultural, social, educational and charitable organization whose mission 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.
Dayal said ISW expects between 6,000 and 8,000 people to attend India Day this year: up from about 5,000 people in 2015.
“We have filled the hall with over 70-80 booths with vendors covering apparel, jewelry, food, services and specialty areas and non-profit organizations,” said Dayal.
Special guests at Indian Day this year will be State Senator Michael Moore, State Rep. Hanna Kane and Worcester Mayor Joe Petty.
Dayal said that several hundred performers will participate in cultural shows, which will be constantly running from 2:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
“We realized that the Indian Community in the area is growing rapidly,” said Dayal. “We are unique in that we have so many cultures, languages and food throughout India. ISW wanted to play a part in presenting the uniqueness of each culture under one roof to highlight the rich diversity of our Indian Heritage.”
Dayal said that ISW India Day will feature a new and improved Food Court, a greatly expanded Kids Zone and many more options for shopping in the Meena Bazaar.
“This year we are also starting a new tradition – a ‘Parade of States’ that starts at 1:45 PM, ” Dayal said. “This was an impromptu occurrence last year. This year we have invited all the States’ teams to join us for a parade.”
