The 14th Global Mela was a major success attracting over 15,000 community members at the Global Mall in Norcross, Georgia on Saturday October 24 and Sunday October 25 2015. The mammoth Mela has become the largest free carnival fun fair event for the South Asian community in the Southeast, with over 40 booth vendors and attendees from all over the Southeast. The 2-day event was kicked off with a warm welcome by Shiv Aggarwal and emcee Kiran Sethi of Xtrahotdjs Entertainment. The dignitaries joined Shiv and his family in Lord Ganesh puja and a lamp lighting ceremony by Siddhi Vinayak Mandir’s pundit Gyan Praksh Upadhyay.
 

The dignitary guests included Deputy Consul,Consulate General of India in Atlanta, Hon. D.V.Singh; Georgia State Senator Curt Thompson; City of Lilburn Mayor Johnny Crist; ,Gandhi Foundation of USA Chairman Subash Razdan; SAI Health Fair Founder and Organizer Dr.Sujatha Reddy; City Manager,Norcross Rusty Warner; City Administrator Norcross, Rudolph Smith, Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta’s President Vinay Maddineni and BOD Chair Rajesh Jampa; and Mrs. India International 2012 Mrs. Shaveta Jain, Shiv Aggarwal recognized the dignitary guests and media representatives and said “I feel very happy and honored to welcome and thank you all to the Global Mela. My thanks also to Subash Razdan who attended the first Global Mela, and has been a steadfast supporter ever since. Please join us in Lamp lighting ceremony and then enjoy the entertainment and the Mela.” Consul D.V.Singh responded, “I feel honored and happy to attend one of the biggest Mela in the South East. The Festive season is ahead and I would like to wish a Happy Dussehra and incoming Happy Diwali to you all. Please enjoy the Mela!” Curt Thompson commented,” I congratulate Aggarwal and his family for hosting this mammoth Mela, which continues to grow in popularity. I am very impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the people present here. Please enjoy the festive celebrations”

Atlanta’s well known and respected journalist Ravi Ponangi(India Tribune newspaper) read out the letter from U.S.Representative Rob Woodall(R-GA07) in which he expressed his greetings and good wishes and said,” The Global Mela and Lamp Lighting Ceremony is a great opportunity for South Asians all over the Southeastern United States to display their faith, culture, and cuisine to our community. And with an attendance of over 16,000 last year, I am very proud that the rich South Asian culture and heritage is on full display to our community. This celebration is also a great way for younger generations to connect with and learn about their heritage so that they may one day pass it down to their own children. These young folks will lead our great nation in the future, and the stronger a sense of community that they have, the stronger our nation will be when they take up the leadership mantle.”
Atlanta’s premier Indian Dance and Music Academy Nritya Natya Kala Bharati’s Founder/Director Mrs. Kumud Savla’s students in traditional Indian costumes and accessories enthralled the dignitaries, and the audience with two scintillating dances. Ms.Sagnika Mukherjee performed a riveting solo dance to Ram Leela movie’s hit song ‘dholi taro dhol baaje’.

Dj Bobby from Xtrahotdjs and his team heightened the Mela ambience with throbbing, pulsating music and the latest Bollywood chartbusters! Live dhol players Ranvir Kohli and Jas intensified the atmosphere playing in sync to Bollywood music and getting the crowd dancing to Bhangra.
At the entrance of the mall, inflatable obstacle courses, slides and a bounce house were set up for the children to play on the perfectly breezy October weekend. People were welcomed with the aroma of Ashiana’s delectable chat, samosas and pav bhaji stall downstairs, while mouthwatering pani-puri and vada pavs and Haldiram snacks and sweets were doing brisk business upstairs.

The Global Mall food court was bustling all weekend with guests waiting in lines for the Chinese Dhaba, Sri Krishna Vilas, Dawat Express, Mumbai Masala, and Curry on the Go! Global Mall and Legacy Jewels sponsored a handful of free treats and activities for children and some young-at-heart adults, including free popcorn, cotton candy, face painting, and balloon artistry. On the second floor, booth vendors were setup along the hallways of the mall, ranging from Indian apparel, jewelry, housewares, toys, arts and handicrafts, services such as travel(Discover Destinations), insurance(SDK & Associates), education, health and medicine(Foot & Ankle Health Centers); radio and TV(South Asian Radio);YUPP TV. Non-profits- Ekal Vidyalaya, Art of Living Foundation, Science of Spiritualty, Asian American Advancing Justice,SEWA International, Rotary International etc. remained busy dealing with the throngs of visitors.

The guests were courteously greeted by the entire Global Mall family and volunteers at the reception/raffles table. Every year, Global Mall sponsors free raffle tickets and entrance gifts to all attendees. Raffles are run every hour around the clock, and attendees get a chance to win prizes sponsored by Global Mall and Global Mall tenants. On Sunday evening, the Global Mall family ran the Mega Prize Raffle, The prizes were donated by Global Mall tenants and management including a Kindle Fire and a large flat screen TV.
 
The weekend-long cultural show was an added treat for the visitors! Lively entertainment was provided on both days by the young and talented students from Prem’s Dance Studio,Taal Tadka Group(GA Tech’s premier South Asian/World Fusion a Cappella Group), Nritya Natya Kala Bharti, and Atlanta based local artists who performed a variety of dance, songs and music items. The Founder of Z Fitness, Sheila Devlia, and her students performed energetic and riveting Zumba dances.In addition to dance and music,the children were in for a treat with an enchanting magi show conducted both Saturday and Sunday followed by a special kids only raffle with fun-filled goody bags with toy and treats and stuffed animals.
 

Ladlee Clothing Boutique and Kiian Jewelers presented another magnificent fashion show. Shaveta Jain, the former Mrs. India International and a sought out participant in the Fashion Show commented, “The Fashion show is the flagship item of Global Mall’s signature annual Global Mela. It is the most glamorous, most awaited and the concluding item of the two day event. The outrageously beautiful fashion wear was sponsored by Ladlee, the biggest fashion store located in the heart of Global Mall.  The fashion models were accessorized with the trendiest and one-of-a-kind jewelry by Kiaan Jewelers. The glammed up look for models was provided by Hair Images. The most adorable young children models and beautiful young models modeled with poise,grace and style while the crowd cheered, clapped and the cameras clicked as each model walked up the ramp. The proud fashion show sponsors Janak Bhatt and Krishna Bhatt of Ladlee; Mr.and Mrs.Viren of Kiaan Jewelers and Rabab Aladin of Hair Images were gracefully escorted to the ramp by choreographer Shaweta Jain for the end credits.The show was organized by Kiran Bedi Sethi and music provided by DJ Bobby of Xtrahotdjs Entertainment. As in the previous years, this year’s Global Mela’s fashion show was once again a super hit!!

Well known and respected Global Mall owner, social activist and philanthropist Shiv Aggarwal commented,” Global Mela is our way of thanking the community for supporting Global Mall and our Indian cultural center. I established Global Mall in order to bring the South Asian community together under one roof in a unique community center. It is my passion, my vision and my goal to make everyone aware of our rich Indian Culture and heritage through such Melas. I would like to thank all the tenants, the vendors and the Raffle-Prizes donors. I wish to thank the media-TV Asia, India Tribune, Wownow.com, Atlanta Dunia,Desi-Express;RashtraDarpan Khabar, NRIPULSE, Desh Videsh, and Saathee. My special thanks to Vinod Devlia of Photography by Vinod, for his photography services in recording the entire event; Thanks to Global Mall staff and volunteers for the hard work. Thank you to the Norcross Police Department for well deserved compliments for manning the parking lot and handling the large crowds. Finally, I would like to thank my entire family for their unbounding help and support in organizing this event. I am happy that the attendance at the Mela is increasing each year and we are able to make Global Mela the cornerstone for future events!”

For more information about the Mall and to view photos of the event, please visit www.amsglobalmall.com or the Facebook or Twitter Page for Global Mall.