BY KURINJI VEDAIYAN
Photos by Vinod Devlia

The 10th annual Global Mela held at the Global Mall on October 8 and 9 was a happy, fun filled time for the south Asian communities of Georgia and other neighboring states. The event attracted nearly 15,000 people, more than ever. As promised in their public invitations, the event organizers had arranged for lots of free fun filled activities throughout the mall, with lively music, DJ and dhol. The permanent vendors along with 20 booths in the corridor of the mall offered high discounted goods.

The ‘Global Mela’ was inaugurated with the lighting of the lamp by Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson, along with Global Mall owner Shiv Aggarwal. Mayor Johnson, in his address, said he was happy to be at the event. “The Norcross community is blessed to have you (Global Mall) in our neighborhood,” he said and added, “thank you for being an international gateway, and for participating in the economy of Norcross”. 

The Mela was also attended by Georgia State Senator Curt Thompson on Saturday afternoon. Sen. Thompson enjoyed tasting Indian ice-cream and visited all the booths and appreciated the contributions of the Indian community to Georgia and US at large.

Shiv Aggarwal was very happy with the turnout this year. “The Global Mela was a great success with good wishes and support from the public and media,” he told this reporter. “We served 2,000 cotton candies, 2000 bags of popcorn and 1500 cups of snow cones to our visitors at no cost to them. We also provided free face painting and thousands of free balloons to children. For the first time ever in a South Asian event in Atlanta, free pony rides were arranged, which attracted more than 400 children. The five free floats attracted more than 2,000 children”. 

There were also free raffle tickets with prizes sponsored by various vendors announced every hour, free mehendi patterns done by Ruby Beauty and a free terracotta lamp-painting booth. Cultural programs were organized on both days in the afternoon with participants from the Academy of Kuchipudi Dance, Kumud Savla’s Nritya Natya Kala Bharati, Absolute Fitness, Prem Dance Studio, Sandeep Savla & Group Musicians and other individuals. 

Aggarwal was very delighted to mention that the two day cultural programs and the Judo demonstration were immensely applauded by the crowd. 

He added, “Global Mall has been sponsoring Global Mela, a family friendly event, every year as a means of thanking and welcoming the south Asian community for supporting Global Mall and its Indian cultural center.” He also expressed his zeal in serving the South Asian community through Global Mall by asserting that, “ With 150 employees, Global Mall upbeat about prospering as the hub for the community in the future years to come, as it has for the past 10 years” .

Ms. Kanchan a mother of two girls, who attends the festival every year with her family said, “This year’s mela was bigger than previous years and it is packed with people. It’s fantastic with tons and tons of free fun and activities for children, and, of course, the food court is always a plus”. 

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