Global Mela in Atlanta; Black Friday for South Asians with cultural immersion

Atlanta, Georgia: Several thousand revelers thronged to Global Mela, the premier international cultural festival, on October 28 and 29 at the widely acclaimed Global Mall, Norcross, Georgia. The two-day event was a resounding success, showcasing a diverse tapestry of cultures from around southeast Asia, providing an unforgettable experience for all.

This years’ Global Mela, marking the beginning of Diwali festival was kicked off with the traditional light lamping by the newly appointed Consul General of India in Atlanta, L. Ramesh Babu and other dignitaries that include Mayor of Norcross, Mr. Craig Newton; Chairwoman of Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, Ms. Nicole Hendrickson; President of the Andrew Young Foundation, Mr. Gaurav Kumar; State Senator, Shawn Still; Council man, Dilip Tunki and Georgia State Representative, Matt Reeves.

Large crowds along with a host of elected officials and dignitaries Joined Global Mela and enjoyed music, entertainment, authentic Indian food and elaborate shopping at vendor shops. Global Mela now in its 22nd year, surpassed all expectations as it transformed Global Mall into a vibrant hub of cultural immersion. Visitors from around the southeast converged to celebrate the event’s mission to foster unity and understanding across cultures was realized with great enthusiasm.

Many beautiful words were expressed by the chief guests. Mayor Craig Newton stated “This celebration is a multi-cultural event. It brings people together across cultural boundaries and inhibitions. It’s okay to celebrate our unique cultures.” Gaurav Kumar said “I’ve been coming to the Global Mall for 12 years, and it feels like coming home. Thank you to Shiv Aggarwal for giving us a home away from home. On Diwali, light gives us hope, and we need light in the time of darkness.

The newly appointed Indian Consul General L. Ramesh Babu was impressed with the contributions of the Indian community in the United States and Atlanta. Shiv Aggarwal thanked the Media, Global Mall tenants, and vendors for their continued support, along with the Global Mela organizers – Lynn Rich and Aarti Aggarwal for their hard work in putting together another amazing year.

Speeches from the chief guests were followed up with scintillating dances performed by Nritya Natya Kala Bharti Academy’s well-trained senior and junior students. The dances were choreographed by NNKB’s founder Kumud Savla. Global Mela 2023 not only provided an opportunity to celebrate cultures from every corner of the world but also served as a platform for meaningful connections and friendships across borders.

The festive atmosphere, joyful interactions, and enthusiastic participation of the attendees truly made it an event to remember. The event featured captivating performances, culinary delights, and artisan markets representing a multitude of cultures. Attendees reveled in traditional dances, mesmerizing music, and artistry that spanned the globe.

Mela’s Global Bazaar, a temporary shopping market, featured 32 artisans, clothing and jewelry retailers offering unique, handcrafted products, textiles, and art pieces that delighted shoppers seeking authentic souvenirs. The Global Mall tenants, along with the Bazaar vendors, offered incredible sales to shoppers for the Diwali season. The event has been coined as the “Black Friday for South Asian shoppers”.

The event encouraged community involvement, with local non-profit organizations and businesses coming together to support the celebration of global diversity. Throughout the two days, cultural performances enthralled the attendees with Bollywood beats and DJ Bobby from Xtra Hot DJs kept the crowds dancing and pumped all weekend. There were a variety of performances by dance schools and individual performers.

It has always been important for the Global Mall Family to give young performers a platform to showcase their talent. This year, dance participants of the cultural program included a new dance school Steps and Styles, Sai Aikya, Ashna Joshi, and Global Mall’s two resident dance schools Nitya Natya Kala Bharti and Prem Dance Academy.

Children spent the weekend jumping in the inflatable bounce houses and enjoying the inflatable rides set up outside the mall and were treated to food and fun inside with free popcorn, cotton candy, and face painting provided by Global Mall. Additionally, the 3 pm magic show captured the attention of over 100 kids over both days with free party favor bags and kid’s-only raffle prizes after the show! 

Like every year, free raffle prizes were given out every hour and this year over 150 people won free raffle prizes sponsored by Global Mall and its tenants and vendors, including a gold coin sponsored by Legacy Jewels and two very lucky winners who won a 58” TCL Smart TVs sponsored by the Global Mall family.

“We are thrilled to have hosted Global Mela 2023 and to see the overwhelming response from the community,” said Shiv Aggarwal, the organizer of the event. “This year’s event was a testament to the power of cultural diversity in fostering unity and bringing people together.”

As the sun set on October 29th, Global Mela 2023 came to a close, leaving behind a lasting legacy of cultural exchange and mutual appreciation. Plans are already underway for an even grander Global Mela in 2024, promising an even more remarkable experience.

– Ravi R Ponangi