For Indians settled in the US, community centers are a great way to keep in touch with their culture, preserve their traditions and celebrate their festivals. Parents visiting their children in the US find it a great way to spend time where they can relax and meet others, enjoy a meal or browse through Indian papers and magazines at the library. One can play games such as chess, caroms or cards or make use of the fitness center offering yoga and fitness classes.
Community centers are also the preferred venues for concerts and weddings, a great way to meet other Indian families, especially for parents and seniors who feel isolated in a foreign country. With children leading busy lives, seniors often get depressed not knowing what to do with their time; a community center gives them a chance to spend their time doing the things they like besides providing them company of like minded people. Indian community centers come up with programs relevant to the younger Indian generation too, with recreational programs that promote Indian culture and values. Children and young adults enjoy participating in cultural programs at the community centers. There are hundreds of Indian community centers all over America that help in creating a place for family and friends to come together. They even offer services in areas such as health, legal aid and senior support and promote awareness and understanding of Indian culture. Some of the community centers have places of worship to provide a uniting spiritual experience for the Indian community.
A great thing with Indian community centers is that they focus on uniting a diverse Indian community and steer clear of dividing issues like religion, caste and politics. They make a huge difference in peoples’ lives by giving them a friendly environment to share their ideas and interests and take pride in offering them a home away from home.
