Note from the Vice President
Dear ICON Family, As I step into my new role as Vice-President of ICON, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude and purpose. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of serving as ICON’s Sponsorship Chair—a role that allowed me to witness firsthand the remarkable strength, generosity, and togetherness that define our community. I am humbled to continue that journey now as part of the leadership team, working alongside an incredibly dedicated board and all of you, our members and supporters. The year 2025 has been one of incredible energy and growth for ICON. We kicked off the year with our brand-new Spring Social, a wonderful addition that brought friends and families together in a relaxed, fun setting. Friends from the locally grown ICONix Band filled the air with musical vibes while we all mingled and made new friends. ICON’s efforts to give back to community was elevated to the next level by such a big group of kids and youth while we donated meal bags for the homeless through the Generic Ministry. Building on that momentum, we celebrated Holi, India Day, and Dandiya Night—each event surpassing expectations with record attendance, enthusiastic participation, and unforgettable memories. One of the most heartwarming additions this year has been our Member’s Corner—a space where our very own ICON members share their perspectives, reflections, and experiences through the monthly newsletter. It’s been inspiring to see how our members have embraced this platform, adding new voices and ideas to the fabric of our community. While we reach out to you for similar contributions this year, please feel free to volunteer your name for the same! And now, as we prepare for our flagship event—Diwali and Cultural Night—excitement is truly in the air! We’ve received a record number of sign-ups from both kids and adults, all practicing diligently for weeks to showcase their talents on stage. Their commitment and creativity remind us why ICON exists—to celebrate our culture, pass on our heritage, and strengthen our bonds as one big family. As your Vice-President and Sponsorship Chair, I’m incredibly grateful for the continued trust and support of our members, sponsors, and volunteers. Your contributions—whether through membership renewals, sponsorships, volunteering, or simple words of encouragement—make these events possible. Your belief in ICON’s mission—to connect, contribute, and celebrate— keeps our efforts thriving year after year. We look forward to seeing you all at Diwali and Cultural Night—an evening sure to be filled with lights, laughter, and lasting memories. Let’s continue to grow, celebrate, and keep the spirit of ICONshiningbrighttogether! ICON shining bright together! With warm regards and festive wishes, Hemant Chowdhary Vice-President & Sponsorship Chair, ICON
Join us for Diwali & Cultural Nighton November 15
ICON cordially invites you, with family and friends, to come celebrate Diwali & Cultural Night! A few highlights of the night are a nicely curated cultural program, music/DJ and Bollywood Dance, photo booth, delicious food, and a lot of fun!
Register here!
Event Recap: Dandiya/BollywoodNight
On September 20, 2025, our community lit up the night with ICON’s Dandiya and Bollywood Night — an evening filled with music, dance, laughter, and connection! From the energetic beats of the DJ to the vibrant circles of Garba and the sparkle of colorful dandiya sticks, every moment was pure joy. Families, friends, and neighbors came together to celebrate our shared love for culture and dance. The night buzzed with energy as everyone took to the floor, twirling and moving to favorite Garba and Bollywood songs. Delicious food added to the festivities, making it a true feast for both the heart and the senses. A huge thank you to all who joined in, volunteered, helped organize, and made the evening such a success. Events like these remind us how wonderful it is when our community comes together to celebrate, connect, and create lasting memories. Here’s to more nights of music, laughter, and togetherness! Click here for Dandiya Night Photos & Videos
ICON TownSquare!
September 30, 2025
Dear All (Active and Prospective) ICONians! The need for more efficient and direct communication among members and the board channel was felt for some time, for important ICON announcements, ticket sales, and to make it a 2-way street. Towards that end, we started a WhatsApp Group called “ICON-TownSquare” last November. Here is its overall framework. Main Objectives To provide an efficient 2-way communication among ICON members, prospects, and board members To enhance ideation, inclusivity, diversity, feedback, and participation Guiding Principle Helping ICON achieve its below-core mission is the overarching principle ICON is a secular, non-profit organization aimed at celebrating and preserving the culture and heritage of India and surrounding South Asian countries; fostering friendships and unity among community members; advancing the educational, cultural, and charitable interests of the community; and representing the community to the people of Needham, MA, USA, and beyond. Working Framework Mostly used for ICON announcements, event ideation and planning No forwards of any kind at all, and no good mornings, good nights! Highest respect for each other is utmost expected Moderated by a few ICON Board Members, with windows for 2-way communication at times ICON Board reserves the right to tweak this working framework as needed Everyone is cordially invited to please join using the link or the QR code below.
Join ICON TownSquare here
ICON's valued sponsors! We thank all our sponsors for their continued support! ICON's 2024 & 2025 Silver-Level Sponsor Leena Agnihotri (leena.agnihotri@compass.com; M: 617-331-2647) ICON's Strong Supporter in 2023, 2024 & 2025
