CEDAR FALLS - A song from a Bollywood soundtrack filled the room as Jasmine Singh skipped out onto the open dance floor.

The teen, flanked by two friends, took her position at center stage as sitar-laden rhythms pulsed through the room. Singh, dressed in a champagne-colored smock, swayed her hips to the music in a traditional Indian dance.

"Chak de, India," the crowd chanted, encouraging the girls. "Go for it, India."

The dance was one of several activities included in Saturday's Republic Day celebration. The event, sponsored by the India Association of Northeast Iowa, marked the adoption of India's constitution 59 years ago. More than 150 people attended the gathering at the Cedar Falls Senior Center.

"Going to these things helps me learn a lot more about my culture," said Singh, a senior at Cedar Falls High School. "When I go to college, I know I'll want to continue to do these things."

Without the association, Indian children born in the Cedar Valley would not have an opportunity to experience their culture, explained Surekha Mahajan, one of the group's leaders.

"Many of our families make trips back to India," she said. "But this is a way for us to stay connected, and to let our kids have the best of both worlds."

The organization formed roughly 25 years ago. Members come together at four annual gatherings: Republic Day, the Hindu holidays of Diwali and Holi, and a summer picnic. At each event, the group donates money to a local charity. This weekend, the association raised $200 for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

At Saturday's celebration, children read Indian poems and dressed up as some of the country's past and present leaders. Their parents also got in on the action, singing songs and drumming. All guests were treated to a traditional Indian meal.

Sonia Monga attended the gathering with her husband and two young children. The clan savored warm samosas dipped in chutney as they watched other Indian families dance.

"The association allows us to celebrate all the functions we would back home," said Monga, a doctor at United Medical Park. "It's a good way to show our kids the importance of our rituals, because, otherwise, living here, they don't see that."

Nonetheless, the Republic Day ceremony also paid homage to U.S. traditions. The program started with back-to-back renditions of the Indian national anthem and the "Star-Spangled Banner." Both countries' flags were on display, with attendees pledging allegiance to each nation.

"I think of myself as both Indian and American," explained Srinivas Dhanwada, a 13-year-old from Cedar Falls. "I was born here in the United States, but I still do things like an Indian does."

Dhanwada's family home contains a Hindu prayer room. Each morning, his parents take a bath, cleansing themselves before they light the candles inside, he said.

But the Price Lab student also has American interests. While other attendees lined up for food, Dhanwada pulled up a chair and relaxed with his Nintendo DS. Still, the teen said he was proud to celebrate Republic Day.

"This is a new era in India," Dhanwada said. "Before they were ruled by the British, and before that, a bunch of kings. But now they have their own constitution and their own government.

"India just keeps on getting better."

Contact Mary Stegmeir at(319) 291-1482 or mary.stegmeir@wcfcourier.com.