Thousands Gather at Cumming Fairgrounds for Sewa Atlanta's 19th Festival of Colors

Thousands of people packed the Cumming Fairgrounds on Saturday, March 7 for the 19th annual Festival of Colors, Sewa International's Atlanta chapter celebration of Holi, the Hindu festival of colors. The free, family-friendly event filled the grounds with music, dancing, food, cultural performances, and the signature tradition of throwing brightly colored powders that gives the holiday its name.

Madhav Durbha, president of the Atlanta Sewa chapter, has been clear about what drives the event. "We don't view this as a profit-making event," he said. "The festival is much more a community celebration than a money-maker."

That philosophy shapes how Sewa Atlanta operates year-round. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds projects serving underserved communities across Forsyth County and the broader Atlanta area, including food drives, disaster relief, homework assistance for children, and a free health clinic. The festival itself costs nothing to attend, reflecting the same ethic of service that defines the organization's other work.

The 2026 gathering marked a milestone in a tradition that has grown steadily in the Cumming area. At the 18th annual event in 2025, Consul General of India Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan applauded Sewa for hosting what he described as the largest Holi celebration in the United States, citing the organization's dedication to community upliftment through disaster relief, education, healthcare, and development initiatives. Congressman Dr. Rich McCormick also joined the 2025 festivities, joining attendees on the dance floor.

The Cumming Fairgrounds has served as the anchor venue for the festival, providing enough space for the crowds that Sewa Atlanta draws each spring. With 19 consecutive years of the event now behind it, the organization has built something that extends well beyond one Saturday in March.