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Global Mela 2004: A Success! |
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Monday, May 10, 2004 |
 ATLANTA - When a South Asian thinks of a “mela,” a carnival filled with vendors, food, and lots of people comes to mind. Those who weren’t at the Global Mela held at Global Mall on May 7th, 8th and 9th, missed exactly that.
National vendors traveled from long distances to attend the mela. There were also many local organizations that participated in the event, including Maya Creations, RAKSHA, ASHA, Vibha, AIZ, Vitha Jewelers and Western Union.
“It was good to have the mela because it allowed local residents to shop and have a good time. It also helped residents get acquainted with different organizations in the Atlanta area so that in the future they may support or utilize those organizations,” says Raunak Merchant, Youth Program Coordinator at RAKSHA.
For three days, Global Mall was buzzing with booths that featured everything from South Asian style furniture to food, ice cream, clothes, jewelry, and even CDs and DVDs. There were also amazing local talents performing dance and vocal entertainment segments. “It was overall a relaxing and fun environment,” says Sangita Bharat, an Atlanta resident.
 People spent the day enjoying cotton candy and shopping, and closed the evening with great music and dancing at a garba sponsored by Shiv Mandir. A live band from Bombay called Beats 16 provided the music for the garba. Beats 16 travels all over the world performing for special events, and has been touring the United States for one month. They created a lively environment for garba and enchanted the hall with requested oldies.
Global Mela brought the community together and helped South Asians become a little more aware of their resources. It also helped many residents unwind, shop, dance, meet people, eat good food, and just have a great old time. It’s an event that really showcases the growth of the South Asian community in Atlanta, and will be beneficial when held again in the future.
For More Pictures CLICK HERE
Written By: Minni Pathak, Desibuzz.com |
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