NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Duluth, GA, October 15, 2026: Maharaja Agrasen Bhawan Atlanta (MABA) celebrated Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti and Maha Durga Hawan at Yugal Kunj in Duluth on October 11, bringing together families, community leaders, and supporters to honor the legendary king’s legacy and advance plans for a new cultural and community center in metro Atlanta.
The proposed Maharaja Agrasen Bhawan aims to serve as a permanent gathering place for the Indian American community, with facilities for cultural programs, education, arts, and community service. Organizers envision an inclusive space where families can celebrate their heritage, younger generations can connect with their roots, and people from diverse backgrounds can come together.
The event began with Maha Durga Hawan conducted by Pandit K.D. Joshi.
Later in the evening, MABA President and Founding Trustee Rakesh Mittal welcomed the gathering and spoke about the organization’s plans for the proposed Bhawan.
Mittal said Maharaja Agrasen’s teachings of mutual support and equal opportunity were the inspiration behind the initiative.
“Our proposed Bhawan is carrying that spirit into the Atlanta community,” he said, describing it as “a welcoming place where families can connect, children can learn about their heritage, and people can serve together.”
He also praised the involvement of young volunteers, who have taken responsibility for developing the organization’s website, managing social media, and helping with outreach and event activities.
The ceremonial diya was lit by Mini Nair, Rahul Gupta, representing the Consulate General of India in Atlanta, and Johns Creek City Council Member Parmesh “Bob” Erramilli, Post 3.
Erramilli expressed support for the initiative and spoke about the importance of keeping cultural and religious traditions alive, particularly by involving children and younger generations in community institutions.
A short film created by Abhinav Garg introduced Maharaja Agrasen’s life and teachings, including his emphasis on compassion, fairness, entrepreneurship, and collective prosperity.
The film highlighted the tradition of one brick and one coin, associated with Maharaja Agrasen’s kingdom of Agroha. According to the tradition, when a new family arrived in the community, established families contributed a brick and a coin to help the newcomers build a home and establish a livelihood. The practice symbolized a community in which everyone contributed to the well-being of others.
The same principle was reflected in a speech by Anshika Mangla, who spoke on “From Heritage to Humanity: Lessons from Maharaja Agrasen.”
Mangla connected Maharaja Agrasen’s teachings with the Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning “The World Is One Family,” and spoke about their relevance to young Indian Americans growing up in a multicultural society.
“Our heritage should not create boundaries. It should inspire us to build bridges,” she said.
“As young people growing up in America, we have a unique opportunity to carry these values forward, not just within our community, but wherever we go.”
Mangla said the proposed Bhawan could provide a space where culture, education, art, and community service come together, while remaining welcoming to people from different backgrounds.
“Maharaja Agrasen’s greatest legacy is not just the heritage we inherit, but the humanity we practice,” she said. “And it’s up to our generation to carry that legacy forward.”
Youth participation was a major focus of the celebration. Members of the MABA Youth Team presented their plans for the proposed community center and displayed a conceptual model that included a 3D-printed building, parking areas, and surrounding facilities.
The presentation outlined a vision for a multipurpose center with a banquet hall, outdoor spaces, and facilities for cultural programs, arts, education, and community activities.
The youth speakers stressed that the project was about more than constructing a building.
“We want to make MABA not just for your generation, but for every generation,” one youth representative said. “It’s an organization that plans on building something very tangible, very, very resourceful and very present. Something that you’ll be able to see, something you’ll be able to feel, something you’ll be able to use.”
The team also encouraged young people to bring their own ideas and projects to MABA, emphasizing that the proposed center should reflect the interests and aspirations of future generations.
The youth speakers emphasized that the Bhawan was intended to serve people of all ages and create opportunities for different generations to interact.
They also outlined the organization’s proposed roadmap, which includes raising community awareness, expanding membership, securing financial support, acquiring a suitable property in the Atlanta area, and involving more young people in the planning process.
Youth volunteers said they had already begun participating in community events to introduce MABA and explain its goals to potential supporters.
They encouraged young people to contribute their own ideas, projects, and skills rather than limiting their participation to attending cultural events.
The MABA Youth Team includes Anna Mittal, Arnav Mittal, Jyotil Agrawal, Himangni Agrawal, Tia Gupta, Saharsh Agarwal, Shruti Mittal, and Saksham Garg. Members have contributed to the organization’s website, presentations, photography, social media, outreach, and the Bhawan model.
The cultural program also included a dance performance by Navya Garg.
Founding Trustee Shiv Aggarwal addressed the gathering on the importance of preserving cultural heritage and creating institutions that future generations could use and identify with.
Aggarwal said cultural centers serve as anchors for a community, providing physical spaces where children and grandchildren can experience traditions rather than simply hear about them.
“Our duty now is to keep our heritage alive,” he said, urging families to take an active role in passing their cultural values to future generations.
Explaining why a permanent community center matters, Aggarwal described buildings as anchors that give younger generations a tangible connection to their heritage.
“They can see, they can touch, they can feel,” he said.
He urged families to participate in the initiative, emphasizing that preserving cultural traditions was a shared responsibility.
He also emphasized that the proposed Bhawan should serve the wider community and provide opportunities for people from different backgrounds to learn about Indian culture and traditions.
Aggarwal said there were approximately 1,500 Agrawal families in Georgia and called for greater efforts to connect them with one another and with the broader Indian American community.
As an initial fundraising step, he encouraged families to contribute $100 each toward the project, saying that community participation would be essential to making the Bhawan a reality.
The organization also recognized the 11 founding trustee families who have supported the initiative since its inception.
They are Sangeeta and Rakesh Mittal; Anubha and Sandeep Mittal; Anubha and Rajesh Mittal; Pallavi Singhal and Vishal Gupta; Tripti Jindal and Sachin Mangla; Ruchi and Ankush Gupta; Anushi and Shiv Aggarwal; Pallavi Aggarwal and Vikas Nahata; Dr. Ankita Aggarwal and Dr. Vikash Kansal; Nidhi Gupta and Dhiraj Garg; and Sandhya and Neeraj Garg.
MABA’s executive committee comprises President Rakesh Mittal, General Secretary Yatindra Agrawal, and Treasurer Sandeep Mittal.
Several community organizations supported the celebration, including UPNAA, RAJA, VHPA, Atlanta Gujarati Community, Ekal, Gurukul, and Sewa International.
Community leaders Mustafa Ajmeri, Prakash Srivastava, Veena Katdare, Shalini Bhattacharya, Amit Vadhera, and Falguni Trivedi Shah were acknowledged for their support.
MABA also recognized Agravishwa Trust, Maharaja Agrasen Foundation in Singapore, Akhil Bhartiya Agrawal Sammelan, Agravishwa Mission, and Agravishwa Youth Wing.
Sponsors included Aadishakti Collections, Saurabh Aggarwal, Bill Angdembe, Cherians International Groceries, Om Arora, Littco Restaurant Supply, and Chef David Catering. Media partners included TV Asia, The Feelings Post, Khabar, NRI Pulse, G Plus, Z5, and Z TV.
The event was coordinated by Sachin Mangla, Rakesh Mittal, Vishal Gupta, Rajesh Mittal, Deepak Bansal, Ankush Gupta, Dhiraj Garg, Neeraj Garg, Yatindra Agrawal, Sandeep Mittal, Ruchi Gupta, Pallavi Singhal, Anna Mittal, and Tripti Jindal, with support from volunteers.
The celebration concluded with a community bhoj that included fasting and non-fasting food options.
MABA is currently seeking members, volunteers, donors, and community partners to support the proposed center. While the organization has outlined its vision and initial plans, acquiring a suitable property and raising the necessary funds remain important next steps.
For more information about the initiative or to participate, visit www.agrasenbhawanusa.org.
