Celebrating culture and bringing the town together are two goals of Needham’s upcoming India Day festivities on Aug. 17.
The free event at Powers Hall, sponsored by the Indian Community of Needham, marks Independence Day, a holiday celebrated in India on Aug. 15 recognizing the nation’s liberation from British colonial rule in 1947.
Needham is home to many members of the diverse Indian diaspora, and the upcoming free festivities will “celebrate that they can feel both American and Indian at the same time,” said Raja Shaikh, ICON’s social chairman and former president.
While most children in the U.S. know the National Anthem, ICON president Sujata Sarda said she’s also glad to see youngsters learn the Indian Nation Anthem and “be a participant in both cultures.”
The event will bring the larger community – of all backgrounds – together with food, entertainment, activities and art, according to ICON.
This year children were encouraged to submit artwork that related to Indian independence and culture to “cultivate pride in them,” said Shaikh.
The list of vendors and entertainers is still being finalized and Shaikh and Sarda said there will be a wide variety, including some participants from Needham.
Music lovers can enjoy singers, Bollywood and folk dancers, and a youth band. For children, there will be a craft table, as well as balloon and henna (dye made of leaves) art. Food will be available for purchase and there likely will be a jewelry vendor, according to Sarda and Shaikh.
ICON, a nonprofit, was founded in 2019 and was “started as a social group … to foster community feeling and make Indian-American families feel welcome” in town, said Shaikh.
The group celebrates Needham residents’ diverse backgrounds, languages, religions and cultures and aims “to bring everyone together” Aug. 17, said Sarda.
ICON first held its India Day celebration in 2019 but, like many events, it had to be cancelled during the COVID pandemic before restarting in 2022.
Asked about her favorite part of previous celebrations, Sarda replied, “It’s getting the community together.”
The free event will be held from 3-6 p.m. at Town Hall. Visit the ICON website for more information or to register.
Save as PDF