by Jyothsna Hegde


The India American Cultural Association (IACA) brought together thousands of community members, performers, volunteers, physicians, students, vendors and civic leaders for its 30th Annual Festival of India on August 15, 2026, at the Gas South Center. This year’s celebration carried special significance, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of India’s Independence and the 250th anniversary of the United States, giving the milestone festival a broader theme of freedom, heritage, service and shared community values.

The daylong festival offered a wide-ranging mix of cultural programs, health services, competitions, scholarships, exhibitions and family activities. The main stage remained active throughout the day with music, dance and other performances, while different areas of the venue hosted health screenings, chess, public speaking, art competitions and community exhibits.
Among the dignitaries attending were Consul General of India in Atlanta Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, Fulton County Commissioner Bridget Thorne, Georgia State Representative Dr. Michelle Au, Georgia State Representative Long Tran and Georgia State Senator Shawn Still of District 48. U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, Gwinnett County Commission Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson and Cobb County Commission Chairwoman Lisa N. Cupid sent video greetings to mark the occasion. The inaugural program also included the ceremonial release of the 30th Annual Festival of India souvenir by the assembled dignitaries.

Health and wellness once again formed an important part of the festival. Organized in association with the Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage (GAPI), the Festival of India Health Fair began early in the morning and offered diagnostic testing, screenings and free consultations with physicians representing several specialties. Participating medical professionals included Dr. Inderpaul Singh, Dr. Narasimulu Neelaguru, Dr. Indra Menon, Dr. Rani Reddy, Dr. Ravi Gourav, Dr. Jalpa Dave, Dr. Swati Gaur, Dr. Raja Sappati, Dr. Savitha Shama, Dr. Sreedevi Vayalapalli, Dr. Arti Lamba, Dr. Rajani Gundluru, Dr. Seema Rathi, Dr. Madurika Samakur, Dr. Ritika Mahajan, Dr. Vishal Sharma and Dr. Satish Cheti, along with physical therapist Dharti.

Young participants had a strong presence throughout the festival. The art competition, organized by the Shashikala Foundation, drew more than 70 entries across three age groups. Aria T, Nivanshi Reddy and Valan Christo Rayappan placed first, second and third respectively in the 6–9 category. In the 10–13 group, Vidhi Dabir took first place, followed by Indrayani Pise and Aakriti Singh. The 14–18 category was won by Aarya Soni, with Taniya Bhandari placing second and Sanaa Joshi third.
Mohar Chess Academy of Suwanee organized the festival’s chess tournament for the fourth consecutive year, continuing its partnership with IACA around chess, community engagement and fundraising. Players ranging from youth to seniors competed over four rounds. Daksh Paramkrishna finished with a perfect 4/4 score to take first place, while Vivaan Mohanty and Tushar Manna each finished with 3/4.

The public speaking competition, organized by Toastmasters Youth Gavel Club, featured 17 contestants across middle school, high school and impromptu speaking categories. Twisha Mishra Bharadwaj of VoxSphere Youth Gavel Club placed first in Middle School Prepared Speech, followed by Hannah Huynh of Spruill Oaks and Om Mate of VoxSphere. In the High School category, Jaclyn Moore of Spruill Oaks won first place, Kashvi Anantharaman of VoxSphere placed second and Meghaj Garg of Speech Factory came third. Kaavya Khandewal of Spruill Oaks won the Impromptu Speaking/Table Topics category, with Daiwik Ganesh of VoxSphere placing second.

Academic achievement was also recognized through IACA’s scholarship program. Ten students received scholarships—five in the Merit category and five in the Financial/Merit category. Merit Scholarship recipients were Khushi Rajivkumar Gulnawar, Sahasra Shruthi Tatavarti, Vijval Bapanapalli, Gayatre Marouth and Samanyu Krishna Ganesh. Financial/Merit Scholarships were presented to Pranavi Suthari, Adithya Karthik V Upadhyayula, Shayar Hossain, Ashnaz Hirani and Avni Bedi.
Culture remained at the heart of the celebration, with performers of different ages presenting music, dance and artistic traditions from across India. A fashion show curated by Hetal Mehta and Anima Das added color and contemporary flair to the stage program. FOI Cultural Director Dr. Raktim Sen credited the cultural team’s extensive preparation for bringing together more than 60 performances and over 450 performers, ranging from young children to seniors, while keeping the program running smoothly and on schedule.
One of the day’s most unusual attractions came from Robo Ganesan, whose headless illusion and towering 10-foot dancing act drew attention from festivalgoers and added a playful visual element to the festivities. Beyond the stage, 53 booths transformed the festival floor into a busy marketplace featuring clothing, jewelry, henna, pottery, handicrafts, services and community organizations.

IACA President Dhananjay Gupta used the milestone occasion to reflect on the organization’s history and its continuing role in bringing the community together through cultural and service-oriented programs. He described IACA as a family connected by tradition, service and a shared commitment to community. His remarks also recognized volunteers, sponsors, donors and leaders who have sustained the organization over the years.
IACA Chairwoman Dr. Paddy Sharma emphasized the importance of ensuring that cultural traditions continue through younger generations. Pointing to their participation in music, dance, volunteering and leadership, she noted that traditions endure when people consciously choose to carry them forward. She also acknowledged the many committees, volunteers, performers, sponsors, donors, vendors and community organizations involved in producing the festival.
For IACA Board member Ani Agnihotri, the 30th anniversary carried an added sense of personal history. Having been associated with Festival of India since its inception in 1997, Agnihotri reflected on the pride of seeing the event continue to grow while marking both India’s 80th Independence Day and America’s 250th anniversary.

Organizers thanked the volunteers, sponsors, donors, performers, vendors and attendees whose participation made the milestone celebration possible. Gold Sponsors included Shankar Subramonian, Dr. Paddy and Chandler Sharma and the Sheth Family Foundation. Silver Sponsors included Lucy and Vir Nanda, Priya Misra, Sushma and Vishwanath Ganti, Atlanta Retailers Association, Platinum Business Partners and Care Access, while Bronze Sponsors included Milan and Bharat Shah, Suvidha and Laxmi.
The organizing committee included Dhananjay Gupta, Dr. Paddy Sharma, Ani Agnihotri, Geetanjali Talukdar, Vishwanath Ganti, Nivedita Garabadu, Meher Lanka, Ranjithavenna Pol, Kaushal Tripathi, Kris Gadde, Chaitanya Bhatt, Jaywant Dhumal and Jyothsna Hegde. Their planning and coordination, supported by scores of volunteers, helped bring the multi-faceted celebration together.

Three decades after its launch, Festival of India continues to serve as a gathering place where cultural celebration intersects with education, health, service and civic engagement. The 2026 edition reflected both the history behind the festival and the generations now carrying it forward. Against the symbolic backdrop of India at 80 and America at 250, the event underscored a community tradition that continues to evolve while remaining rooted in heritage, participation and a shared sense of belonging.