Thousands celebrate Holi at Cumming Fairgrounds
On March 23, the Atlanta chapter of Sewa International, a non-profit organization dedicated to disaster recovery and community development, hosted its 17th annual Holi event at the Cumming Fairgrounds. The event attracted an impressive turnout of nearly 18,000 enthusiastic attendees from diverse backgrounds, making it one of the largest Holi celebrations in the United States.
[Left] Visiting dignitaries with Sewa team members at the Holi celebrations.
The celebration featured a variety of cultural performances, including traditional and Bollywood dances and live music. Attendees also enjoyed a wide array of traditional Indian vegetarian street food. Madhav Durbha, President of Sewa International Atlanta, said, “Holi is a time for spreading happiness and building community spirit, and we are delighted to see so many people come together to celebrate this colorful festival with us.” Some of the noted guests were: Congressman Dr. Rich McCormick; Consul General of India in Atlanta, Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan; Georgia State Representative Todd Jones; and Forsyth County Commissioner Alfred John.
[Right] Celebrating Holi with Cumming police officers.
A core team of volunteers collaborated tirelessly for nearly three months leading to the event meticulously planning every detail. About 250 volunteers were present at the event to tend to the needs of the attendees. Starbucks employees were there early in the morning to serve free coffee to the volunteers. Tesla Motors brought some cars to display and allowed attendees to test drive them. The Cumming Police Department provided security and DJ Shaan rocked the campground with heart-pumping music to which the performers and attendees danced while showering each other in colors. The staff of Cumming Fairgrounds ensured the smooth execution of the event. Sewa adapted several sustainability principles to minimize the waste associated with the event. The City of Cumming provided recycling bags and containers.
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