The India Society of Worcester (ISW) hosted its annual Holi Festival of Colors at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, drawing a strong turnout despite cold weather and highlighting growing community engagement with Indian cultural events in the region.
The event featured live Dhol-Tasha-Lezim performances, choreographed dances across age groups and the traditional celebration of Holi with dry colors. Known as the festival of colors, Holi marks the arrival of spring and celebrates joy, unity and renewal.
The ISW Symphony percussion group led the program with high-energy drum performances, bringing together experienced members and first-time participants. The event also marked a milestone for the group, completing 40 public performances in under five years.
“This was an incredible Holi celebration, especially in such cold weather,” said volunteer Prasanna Pawar. “Despite the conditions, so many people gathered in large numbers and stayed from start to finish. It was truly electrifying.”
The program also included a series of dance performances ranging from children’s group presentations to classical Kathak and traditional Lavani. These performances reflected the diversity of talent within the community and continued to draw strong audience engagement throughout the event.
Aishwarya Mungarwadi, a performer, said the event stood out for both its execution and participation. “The event was very well planned. I enjoyed every bit of the performances, and there are many memories to take away from it,” she said.
Highlighting the continued growth of the group, Vishakha Khamankar noted the increasing scale of participation. “The bar gets higher every time, and the community is growing stronger and larger. It is an inspiring team of dedicated and talented members,” she said.
ISW General Secretary Kamlesh Khilnani addressed the audience, sharing the organization’s mission and its ongoing efforts to promote cultural awareness and community engagement across Massachusetts.
Jessy Haggard of Faneuil Hall Marketplace also acknowledged the collaboration with ISW. “The drums, the dances and the colors are an amazing representation of Holi. I had a great time watching all of you and hope to see you again next year,” she said.
More than 50 volunteers and performers contributed to the event across percussion, dance, music, coordination and event operations, supporting a smooth and well-organized program.
Founded in 1963, the India Society of Worcester is one of New England’s leading Indian cultural organizations. The volunteer-run organization promotes Indian culture, education and community service through events and partnerships across the region.
For more information, visit www.iswonline.org
