A Celebration with Heart: ‘Delhi Dil Walo Ki’ Festival Captivates Atlanta
The Delhi Dil Walon Ki Atlanta Cultural Festival, held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Georgia, was a magnificent celebration of Indian heritage, community spirit, and cultural pride. From the vibrant dances and musical performances to a dazzling array of over 60 vendors, including Atlanta’s reputed restaurants' delicious food ite. The event brought together thousands of attendees for a full day of joy, connection, and unforgettable experiences. The festival stood out as one of the largest and most inclusive South Asian cultural showcases Atlanta has seen — a testament to the vision, leadership, and tireless efforts of its organizers.
At the heart of this grand celebration was Mustafa Ajmeri, whose passion and imagination gave birth to the idea of the festival. The event Delhi Dil Walo Ki was his brainchild, and through his leadership with Global Entertainment and Media Services, he brought the vision to life. Working alongside him was Krishan Goyal of Jashan Events, whose collaboration and commitment helped ensure the event’s seamless execution. Their teamwork, supported by their respective spouses — Kheruben, Isha Goyal, and an extended team of dedicated volunteers — created a family-like environment that powered every element of the festival.
Divya Chembath played a key role as the event coordinator along with Priyanka Mathiyalagan who oversaw logistics and community engagement with professionalism and warmth. Ritambhara Mittal, as Cultural Event Director, curated the cultural programming that became the soul of the festival. With colorful dances, fashion shows, and traditional music performances, the event stage came alive with talent representing every corner of India — from Bharatanatyam and Bhangra to Bollywood beats and folk art.
The venue was transformed into a vibrant bazaar-like atmosphere, thanks to the creative design and décor by Gayatri of Happy Day Decor. Shazim Hameed and Amy from Copy Shop brought flair and precision to the event’s signage and marketing materials. Nina Hidalgo from Peachtree Ridge High School was instrumental in coordinating the space, ensuring the venue was welcoming and functional for thousands of attendees.
Visitors indulged in a culinary extravaganza featuring more than 8 food vendors offering live-prepared delights like dosa, idli Sambar, samosas, ragda patties, vada pav, bhel puri, pani puri, Indo-Chinese, jalebis, kulfi, sugarcane juice, and momos — all under $6. The food court buzzed with flavors and aromas that transported guests straight to the streets of Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat, and Chennai. The free entry and a recurring gift raffle every two hours kept spirits high and the energy festive throughout the day.
The festival also honored prominent community leaders and special guests who have contributed significantly to Indian-American society. Among them were Brig. Dinesh Mathur of the Indian Army; Vir Nanda, a pioneer of the Indian community in Atlanta and former chairman of IACA; and Jitubhai Patel, founder and first president of Gujarati Samaj Atlanta. Inspirational figures like Madhulika ( Madhu) Kumar W/O Gp. Capt. Ravi Kumar,IAF, Rajabhai (Raja Lulla), Owner of Texas Sari Sapne, first Indian clothing and sari store in Atlanta, Geeta Mehrotra, motivational speaker, author and CEO of Sadhu Vaswani Center. South Indian film actor and community activist Vijay Vishwa and Bollywood celebrity makeup artist Sahil Shaikh were warmly welcomed and acknowledged for their roles in empowering the community.
Behind the scenes, a remarkable team of volunteers helped bring the event to life. Names such as Sujith Kannan, and the SIA Events team — Priya, Alagammai, Vidya, Sowmi, Payal, Anwar Ajmeri, Milind Bavadekar, Tanvi Ghangrekar, and many were instrumental in handling programming, coordination, and logistics. Special appreciation was extended to Jairaj, Nimesh Sevak, Asha Gupta, Ranjeeta, Anshika, and Praful, whose time and dedication made the day's cultural showcase run smoothly. Numerous student volunteers and cultural team members worked tirelessly throughout the day, contributing to the festival’s success with their enthusiasm and service.
In many ways, Delhi Dil Walo Ki Atlanta Mela—A Cultural Festival was more than just a one-day celebration. It was a moment of unity and identity, a reminder of the beauty of India’s diversity, and a symbol of the strength of Atlanta’s vibrant Indian-American community. The event stood as a beautiful tribute to the late Sunita Bhandari, in whose loving memory the festival was dedicated. Kapil Bhandari and his family along with Nirankari Mission organized a blood drive event.
With the vision of Mustafa Ajmeri, collaborative efforts of Krishan Goyal, and the dedication of an entire team of cultural stewards, this festival marked a new milestone for South Asian cultural expression in Georgia — and one that the community will fondly remember for years to come.Organizers extended their gratitude to Dr Naresh Parikh & Dr Asha Parikh of Georgia Clinic, Paddy & Chandler Sharma, Ricky Walia of Walia Hospitality, Nisha Agarwal of Tanishq -Atlanta, Topaz Tours, Bhindi Jewelers, Rohil Viraniof Welcome Fuels, Vani Ghanate of DhoomDB, Patel Brothers, Jay Shah, a restaurateur, and all other vendors. Overall event Delhi Dil Walo Ki became significantly successful in Atlanta
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