This year’s annual India Day celebration in Needham on Aug. 17 was all about inclusion.
“To showcase our inclusivity, we featured a fashion show highlighting traditional garments from various Indian states,” said Karan Bhagat, a youth ambassador of the event’s organizer, the Indian Community of Needham, or ICON.

India is a highly diverse nation in which around 100 different languages are spoken and hundreds of tribal groups reside. More so, while Hinduism, Islamism, Sikhism and Buddhism are frequently associated with the nation, every major world religion is practiced there.

So it makes sense that theme for 2024 was “Being Exclusively Inclusive.”

To learn more about the event, Sampan spoke with Bhagat about the day that honored India’s culture, fashion, food, music and history. (And if you missed the festivities, ICON holds its next big event, Bollywood Day on Sept. 28. For more, see https://www.iconeedham.org/)

Editor’s Note: Sampan reached out to the organizers of the Boston India Day, but did not hear back yet.

Sampan: How would you characterize the cultural diversity of Indians, both in their home country and those first- and second generation Indian Americans living in the United States?
Bhagat: The foundations of India and the United States are built upon shared values and principles – a reverence for democracy and an embrace of diverse religions, cultures, traditions, and opinions. Both nations honor their rich and multifaceted heritages while recognizing the importance of diversity.
The fabric of these two nations is intertwined, united by a shared commitment to freedom, the pursuit of innovation, and a profound appreciation for diversity and pluralism. Together, we forge a path toward a brighter future, empowering our youth to thrive.
This shared foundation of diversity and respect for individual freedoms has laid the groundwork for the vibrant and multifaceted Indian diaspora, building upon American culture, and is reflected in the thriving Indian community in the United States including the Boston community. Second-generation Indian Americans often bridge the two cultures, blending their Indian heritage and American upbringing.
In Boston and Massachusetts, we can see this diversity through the vibrant Indian festivals, community organizations, the diverse range of Indian restaurants, and the representation of Indian Americans in leadership positions of organizations.

Sampan: What were the highlights of the India Day festivities this year, in addition to celebrating inclusiveness?
Bhagat: Another key highlight was our ongoing commitment to youth empowerment. Building upon the success of last year’s pilot program, our Youth Club, open to 8th graders and high school students, has been instrumental in developing essential skills for personal and professional success. By volunteering with ICON, students have the opportunity to
engage in meaningful activities that foster leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while promoting cultural understanding. During the event, our youth actively participated in performances and played crucial roles in organizing the festivities.
Finally, we celebrated local artists and performers. Attendees could purchase handcrafted wares from traditional artisans, and a lively Bolly-X performance got the crowd dancing to popular Bollywood music.

Sampan: How long does it take to prepare for these celebrations each year?

Bhagat: ICON’s India Day event has been one of our free flagship events open to both members and the public, attracting up to 350-400 attendees. Due to its scale, preparations typically begin approximately six months and sometimes even earlier, before the event

Sampan: Over half a million foreign-born Indians reside in Massachusetts, with over 38,000 here in Boston. Indians comprise the 9th largest country of origin population in this city. What do you think makes the state so attractive to Indians? Do celebrations like India Day every August help bring the population together?

Bhagat: The significant Indian presence in Boston is a testament to the opportunities, quality of life, and diversity that Massachusetts offers. Many Indians are drawn to the state due to its world-class educational institutions (including K-12 schooling), thriving job market, and diverse cultural representation. Cultural events like India Day are invaluable in fostering unity and cultural pride within our community. They create a sense of belonging and allow us to preserve our cultural heritage while sharing it with the broader community. This contributes to the city’s rich multicultural identity. In this way, both the growth of the Indian population and events like India Day play essential roles in enriching the social fabric of Massachusetts.

Sampan: What would you like the general public to have taken away from the India Day celebrations?

Bhagat: There is overflowing color, pageantry, infectious music, joyous dances, a rich array of food choices and a pervasive sense of community.
We hope our guests enjoyed the sense of community and unity that the event brought. We hope it was as much an embracing of friendship between India and the United States as it was a celebration of India and its rich colors, dances, food, and culture.

Sampan: What struggles remain for the Indian population in the United States in general and Boston in particular. What are you and ICON hoping to accomplish for the immediate and long term future?

Bhagat: ICON’s mission is to promote awareness, celebrate, and support people of Indian origin from all walks of life, fostering a strong network of allies and friends. By the same token, ICON aspires to be a supporter and friend to communities and organizations outside of its own….