Thousands of people thronged the North Atlanta Trade Center for the Cultures Across Borders (CAB) Diwali extravaganza. CAB joined hands with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to organize the annual mela.

There was no dearth of fun, frolic and fiesta right through from 11 am until 11 pm at night. The variety of booths selling plethora of products like Indian traditional dresses, semi- precious jewelry, artifacts, paintings, etc and services like insurance, financial institutions, travel, specialty educational institutions, non-profit institutions, etc along with multi-ethnic cuisine started attracting the early visitors to this mega mela with an international format. 
Ceremonial traditional Indian welcome with Tilak by young girls and boys dressed in Indian attire enthralled everyone. The exhibition on Hindu holocaust with a bold depiction of Shivaji’s liberation story was the hallmark of the mela. People truly endorsed this depiction and awareness medium. Conventional rangoli (decorated floor painting) and the well-anointed mandir with priest in attendance lent a religious fervor every 30 minutes with puja and aarti being performed.

The event started at 11 am with Pandit Joshi’s aarti and ganesh vandana at the beautifully anointed temple at the entrance bedecked and on-looking an exquisite floral painting- ‘rangoli’. In the background of the vast hall expanse, the huge stage with state of the art music system was filled with color and pageantry when one after the other it spontaneously displayed artists and participants from diverse communities perform with aplomb and gaiety. The two Ram-baraats were a fluster of color and pageantry in ceremonial procession with well dressed up Ram-Sita-Laxman on an aesthetically decorated rath-cart. People rejoiced, sang and danced with abandon. The prime time had people glued to their seats before a melee of carefully choreographed and chosen dance numbers that sought blending of cultures. 

The felicitation ceremony saw eight outstanding community champions being honored in true tradition of service.

The second Ram-baraat culminated in Ram aiming his dhanush- baan (bow and arrow) at demon Ravan and the tall 32 feet Ravan’s blazed to dust with thunderous ovation of viewers. The Mayor of Norcross, Bucky Johnson was the chaperon for this event. The backdrop looked stunning with full size amusement park rides including carnival rides, inflatables, toy-train et al entertained kids all day long. The children also had a ton of fun getting free face painting, balloon sculptures and other games besides the young girls getting their henna tattoos. 

And finally, the floor got filled up with Garba dancers enjoying the rhythm of a live band and singers into the midnight. 

Everyone had loads of joy and freely commented that this year’s mela outstripped all previous years in excitement, content and quality. Over 12,00 people attended the mela this year. The organization founders have their target set to render selfless service in healthcare and education. 
VHP of America and Cultures Across Borders profusely thanked dedicated volunteers and participants young and old whose incredible support made the ‘Festival of Lights’ truly light up as beacon of unforgettable and memorable glory and glamour. 

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