Colourful sarees and chunnis draped around columns and on walls transformed a part of Worcester State College into a festive "Mela" site as the India Society of Worcester celebrated India's independence day on Sunday, Aug 11, 2002. The moment one walked into the area you felt like you were transported to India. Over 3000 people attended this event and you could tell by the smiles on their face that they were very happy to be there.

"This is a celebration everything "Indian". We hope to give a little glimpse of the different facets of Indian life through this celebration," says Dr. Sahdev Passey who was managing the stall that sells Kulfi and "Pan". A Pediatrician by profession Dr. Passey is president of several organizations including the Indian American Forum for Political Education and the Indian Medical Association of New England. He is part of the core committee that makes all this happen.

This celebration had something for everyone. There was a stage set at the center where children very displaying a variety of music and dance talent. One could hear popular film songs from the present and the past. There was a "Meena Bazaar" room where many fashion boutiques were displaying and selling Indian beautiful dresses and jewelry. The Mehendi stall was a big hit. The displays also included paintings by non-Indian artists.

If you were in the mood for good food, this was your place to be. Mouthwatering chat, desserts, dinners and pan were available at a very reasonable cost. "Our children are often asked questions about India by their non-Indian friends. We encourage them to bring their friends to this show so that they can get a feel for what it means to be Indian. The show is free and open to all" says Pradeep Sharma, President of the India Society of Worcester. They were obviously successful for many non-Indian faces in the crowd could be seen in the crowd. The team had thought of every detail for they even had a room for young children who may be overwhelmed by the crowds.

Of course it was not just all entertainment. The Indian Medical Society had setup a booth to provide free medical screening. The crisis center, which is part of the India Society of Worcester, had a table with booklets on many resources including resources for women, children and the elderly. "We try our best to help anyone in need. We have doctors, lawyers and other professionals who have volunteered their time for this cause," says Usha Verma who coordinates this center.

This celebration was a grand one. The smiles on the face of the attendees were testimony to the success of the event. The ambience, décor, food and the cultural show were simply wonderful and the event made for a great summer afternoon outing.

About ISW

The India Society of Worcester is a very active organization, started by Shyam Sharma (father of the current president) in 1963. The organization supports all social, cultural and religious activities (all religions) that pertain to Indians. Currently they are in the process of building an India center. They have several events that happen through out the year. The next big event that they will celebrate is Diwali. They have a crisis center to support those in need. They have compiled a "yellow pages" like directory, which is very valuable to those looking for information relevant to Indian-Americans. On a personal note, having participated in many of their events, I am very impressed with their organizational skills. To get more information about the India Society of Worcester, please visit their web site at http://www.iswonline.org/

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