Natick Desi Group specializes in celebrating shared experiences

Despite Nirasha “Niri” Kumar’s low-key approach to creating a Natick Desi Group 8 years ago after moving to town, this grassroots organization has grown through word of mouth to some 550 members who have come to count on each other for advice, support, and cultural celebrations.

Many members of Natick’s South Asian community who have met through the Natick Desi Group via Facebook will get into the Diwali spirit this coming weekend ahead of the actual festival of lights, which begins on Nov. 12. An Oct. 29 party at the Natick Elks lodge will feature colorful finery, a buffet of traditional foods (including special sweets), and of course, dancing and music. By attracting about a couple hundred people, the event had outgrown earlier venues.

“In the USA, many immigrant families find it hard being a minority population to enjoy the spirit of festivals and be able to ask questions that are specific to our culture,” says Kumar, pointing to the need for events such as the Diwali party.  “Sometimes this creates a safe space for people to be among people who look like them, and dress like them.”

A community builds

The Desi Group has been limited mainly to Natick residents of South Asian descent, and their families and friends, to keep it from getting unwieldy. Though Kumar acknowledges it might have already gotten past that point, with her organizational responsibilities sometimes proving to be a stretch despite plenty of volunteer help. Gatherings at Kumar’s home years ago got too big for the space.

There’s a possibility of the group becoming a more formal organization down the road that might coordinate with other groups in town, say on Holi or Multicultural festivals.

Kumar, who grew up in South Africa within an Indian community under apartheid, says her daughters were a large inspiration for launching the Desi Group. She wanted them to appreciate and experience their heritage, and to meet other kids who might be eating Indian lunches at school, for example, “so they wouldn’t feel funny about their meals.”

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While the online Desi Group has proven helpful to members looking for everything from where to buy a certain spice to basic school or household questions, Kumar says the group’s real strength lies in its in-person events. These have included Father’s Day picnics at Hopkinton State Park, participation as a team at local road races, and pumpkin carving.

Such events offer an opportunity for locals to meet, but also for visiting grandparents from overseas to make connections while here, Kumar says.

“Many of the grandparents don’t venture out of the house too much when they’re here because of the language barrier and cultural shock since they’re only here for a few months in the summer,” she says. “They feel thrilled to see other people like them, and can relax.”

Kumar says she’s careful when organizing events for the group to keep activities free of possible controversy, understanding that there are regional divisions within India as well as between South Asian countries. Celebrations, such as for Diwali, focus on cultural themes, not religious ones. Open invitations for volunteers are issued so as not to have activities lean toward one group or another.

Vivek Agarwal, whose family moved to Natick in 2015 when his wife Nidhi’s job brought them in this direction, says one of the best things about the Natick Desi Group is that so many people pitch in.

“This group encourages and prefers the talent and resources within the desi community over professionals during our cultural events,” he says. “This brings forward lots of hidden talent inside the community. We have seen people step up and do incredible things (dance & vocal performances, skits etc) in these settings.”

Vivek says his family (including two children) looks for Desi groups wherever it goes. “For us, Desi (Hindi word for natives in general) is synonymous with practicing Indian values and culture which has been established over centuries to bring peace and happiness to people’s lives.”

Particularly valuable about the Natick group, Vivek says, has been the ability to move beyond acquaintances to “deeper connections with people.” This is especially true while taking part in cultural activities with their kids, he says.

Such connections, in fact, paved the way for group founder Kumar to become involved in climate equity work locally.

Vivek makes a convincing case for taking in Desi activities: “Desi events are full of fun and tasty food. If you get a chance, attend one, and I will guarantee you will remember the event for your lifetime.”

More Diwali: Diwali Take and Make Craft kit available from Morse Institute Library (registration required, pickup starts Oct. 30)