WORCESTER, Mass. - Saturday was a day of celebration for the Indian population in Central Massachusetts.

It was a festive atmosphere for India Day 2022 at the DCU Center, as hundreds commemorated Indian Independence Day. The gathering is the flagship event for the India Society of Worcester, which has been around for nearly 60 years. The event was a huge celebration of India's rich culture, including a free health stop, art fair, henna, Indian food stalls, Indian vendors and an artisan bazaar. The festivities come a few days early though. Indian Independence Day is actually Aug. 15. 

"This is absolutely amazing," said Puneet Kohli, president of the India Society of Worcester. "As volunteers of ISW, and the ones who bring the program, we are delighted and overwhelmed with the response we’ve been getting. Everybody has been wanting to come to this event. We are so glad that we were able to bring it back to DCU."

"We couldn’t be happier," said Amita Rao, a cultural committee member. "There are so many things to celebrate. Seventy-five years of independence is an amazing achievement. But it’s just a celebration of the community coming together."

2022 marks 75 years of the nation's independence from the United Kingdom.