BY JYOTHSNA HEGDE
Atlanta, GA, November 26, 2024: “Diwali at North Point was enjoyable for all ages. I felt like I was celebrating back home in India. It was amazing to see our festival being celebrated here. I absolutely loved the art exhibition; it had the most incredible artwork,” said Dattatraya Joshi, who is visiting his daughter and her family in Atlanta from Mumbai, India.
Mr. Joshi and his family were revelers at the grand Diwali celebrations hosted by IACA (India American Cultural Association) in association with North Point Mall in Alpharetta, GA, on November 2, 2024. Festivities set the mall abuzz with a panoply of performances, pageantry, fanfare, a bazaar, kids’ activities, an art exhibition, yoga, a treasure hunt, and raffle giveaways, culminating with sparklers for kids. With close to five thousand attendees throughout the day and 50 vendors, the Diwali commemoration was a spectacular success, echoing the spirit of the festival of lights across the seven seas. Mayor of Alpharetta, Jim Gilvin, presided as the guest of honor.
“Diwali is fast becoming another signature event of IACA. Diwali by IACA not only fulfills community needs but also helps promote Indian culture, education, arts, music, dance forms, and the like,” said Kaushal Tripathi, President of IACA.
From the White House’s tributes to stunning illuminations at iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center, along with declarations of holidays in NY and PA, and retailers like Walmart, Target, TJ Maxx, and Costco embracing Diwali with a variety of seasonal products, Diwali—the dazzling Festival of Lights—is uniting communities in vibrant celebrations! The Peach State, too, chimed into the nationwide shift in inclusivity to celebrate the universality of the festival.
“Diwali is also known as ‘Deepavali’ or the ‘Festival of Lights,’ and it marks the beginning of the New Year for many cultures in India. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. IACA, being the oldest non-profit organization in Georgia, has taken such initiatives and programs as we did this year in North Point Mall for the second year in a row. I am sure we enthralled hundreds of viewers and mall guests. I want to thank the IACA team and volunteers for bringing such a festive event,” said Ani Agnihotri, BOD, IACA.
North Point Mall was a sight to behold as flamboyant rangolis, vibrant flowers, and glowing diyas showcased the rich tapestry of Indian culture, bedecking the mall at its various entrances. Enlightening yoga sessions, the IACA Women’s Forum treasure hunt, an art exhibition by artists of Indian origin at the Scene Art Gallery, kids’ diya painting, and arts and crafts engaged visitors of all ages and interests. Elaborate Golu setups displaying diverse deities by Shri Krishna Vrundavana (SKV) and Aim for Seva enriched the traditional experience. Informational posters about Diwali by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) educated the unversed about the significance of the Festival of Lights!
“I am blessed to be the mayor of this fine city. I want to thank all of you who made today possible—all IACA members and North Point Mall—every one of you who took the time to make this possible. Alpharetta has changed a lot over the last few decades to become an international community. Regardless of languages, religions, or traditions, we celebrate each other and come together as a community,” said Mayor Gilvin, adding that the event serves as a symbol of unity and togetherness for the community.
The center stage, set right across from Title Sponsor Macy’s, featured back-to-back music and dance performances throughout the day. Practitioners from Kerala presented their ancient martial art form—Kalaripayattu—much to the amazement of the audience! A group of 16 women adorned in traditional outfits and jewelry presented various brides of India in their themed fashion show, Poshaak II—Brides of India. A unique poetry recitation about light, rendered in different languages, highlighted the significance of illuminating the light within to win over the darkness of greed, lust, and similar vices.
“Thanks for coming into our house. This is the second year in a row that the IACA has partnered with us. Thanks for sharing your culture and creating an exciting event for us in the community,” said Nick Nicolosi, General Manager, North Point Mall. He also thanked the sponsors and his staff members, Allison Black and Terri, for their support.
Golu, an artistic display of dolls and figurines, is celebrated on the day of Amavasai (the no-moon day) on the eve of Navratri. It is a South Indian tradition where dolls and figurines, passed down generations, are skillfully displayed on steps-like setups. Characters from the Ramayana, Puranas, and Dashavataram are depicted. Golu also showcases themes like the environment, space, mythology, current affairs, and more.
The SKV Golu setup by Vijaya Subramini and Santosh Krishnamurthy featured stunning handcrafted, intricate deities portraying various mythological characters, gods, and goddesses. Nithya Swamy, representing Aim for Seva, put together a magnificent thematic display of dolls depicting Diwali in various states, complete with a striking revolving lotus.
Spectacular décor by Ruchi Rastogi, Madhuri Suman, and Dr. Neelima Marada, who decked the mall floor with captivating rangoli patterns, added vibrancy to the pathways that featured multifarious vendors spread across the mall.
“In the past, Diwali was a time when women cleaned and decorated their homes to invite health, wealth, and success, while also coming together to brighten the entire village. This year, celebrating our traditional IACA 2024 Diwali brought back such a beautiful sense of nostalgia. A heartfelt thank you to all the women who brought their creativity and spirit, making this celebration truly special. These moments remind us of the power of community and tradition,” said Nikita Shah, décor coordinator for the event.
The spot wall of the Scene Art Gallery in the mall was illuminated with brilliant artwork by artists of Indian origin—Shilpi McReynolds, Isha Uppala, Renuga Devi, Sridhar, Ruchi Jain, Anu Shibu, Shachi Srivastava, Aashiyan Goel, and Meenakshi Iyer—showcasing a rich, diverse, and expansive history of 1,700 years of South Asian art.
Activities like diya painting, arts and crafts, and a rangoli competition kept the kids occupied. The IACA Women’s Forum organized a treasure hunt with clues spread across the mall to engage visitors.
Several yoga schools and meditation institutes, including Heartfulness, Saloni Jain, Ksom Holistic Wellness, Sahaj Yoga, Online Fit Studio, Amoha Yoga, Sanskara Yoga, and Art of Living, offered free yoga sessions throughout the day. Macy’s provided several raffle prizes for their scavenger hunt, while Dillard’s offered gift baskets.
“This year, Diwali attracted more vendors, activities, and attendees. IACA established its footprint in North Atlanta,” said Chand Akkineni, Chairman of IACA. He also thanked sponsors Macy’s, Awesome Alpharetta, Bhavya Chaudhary & Associates, and Kunnatha Injury Lawyers for their support.
Four Indian restaurants and a food truck set up both inside and outside the mall premises completed a critical Diwali essential—food and sweets! A motley of vendors, including those selling clothing, jewelry, IT services, educational courses, meditation sessions, and even astrology, filled the halls of the mall.
“Several shoppers and store owners learned that Diwali was being celebrated that day, marking the victory over evil, brightness over darkness, and heralding a New Year for East Indians. The day was punctuated with dance and melodious music programs. About 75 kiosks lined the corridors of the mall, offering ethnic Indian dresses, jewelry, financial services, and psychic readings, sprinkled with a variety of exotic fast-food items. Many store owners actively participated in the jointly hosted event between North Point Mall and IACA. The wonderful day came to an end after children and adults cheerfully lit sparklers in a covered parking area, lighting up the evening,” said Meher Lanka, event director.
It was wonderful to speak to a man of South African descent who happened to be browsing the Diwali informational posters. “I knew about Diwali from South Africa, but I learned so much more during my visit to this mall today!” he said.
Dynamic flash mobs at the top of the hour added vibrancy to the festivities.
As Vishwanath Ganti, BOD IACA, said, “It was great to see the Indian diaspora along with mainstream America come together and celebrate Diwali!”
“Diwali celebration at North Point brought together people from many different backgrounds to celebrate and learn about Indian culture—its traditions, food, and the stories behind the festival. Attendees enthusiastically stopped by the activities and many displays to discover the significance of Diwali and how it’s celebrated. What stood out was how many participants found connections to their own cultures and shared values of family, community, and unity. It was a day of learning, connection, and deep appreciation for the richness of our diverse cultures,” said event director Suma Potini.
Diwali has truly arrived in the United States!
The IACA core organizing team included: Chand Akkineni, Kaushal Tripathi, Suma Potini, Meher Lanka, Dhananjay Gupta, Ani Agnihotri, Uday Nanjundappa, Vishwanath Ganti, Shreyas Bhakta, Vivek Kumar, and Aditya Yallapragada.
Volunteer coordinators: Dhananjay Gupta and Uday Nanjundappa.
Diwali at North Point was made possible by sponsors: Macy’s, Awesome Alpharetta, Bhavya Chaudhary & Associates, Kunnatha Injury Lawyers, and supporters: Dillard’s, Meena Jewelers, Biryani Pot, Indian Palace, Atlanta Kulfi, Aayush Food Truck, Shiv Mandir, Vedic Temple, Shivoham Foundation, Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), Heartfulness, Gokuldham Vidhyalaya, and Shri Krishna Vrundavana.
