Gunnersbury Park to host London Mela
One-day Festival of Asian Culture in local park
The Mayor has announced that Gunnersbury Park has been chosen to hold the London Mela. The event is expected to attract a crowd of 25,000 and it is hoped that it will become an annual event. It will be a one-day spectacular of Asian pop and classical music, dance, fashion, comedy, community and a vibrant celebration of London's ethnic diversity.
"Mela" is a Sanskrit word meaning "gathering", which describes all sorts of community events and festivals and originated on the Indian subcontinent.
The mela features multiple stages and pavilions, a giant funfair and a sports arena. It will attract a diverse family-audience from across London.
Other attractions include the pop music stage programmed by Sunrise Radio,fashion shows and cabaret performances throughout the day, traditional and modern dancers accompanied by tabla, tanpura and sitar players. There will also be interactive workshops for children and young people involving kite-making, henna and face painting, a range of come and play sports sessions managed by the council's Active Ealing department - featuring a football tournament and other team sports such as kabbadi, spectacular demonstrations of traditional martial arts such as Ghatka, a giant funfair plus displays created by local museums highlighting the historical context of Asians in Britain today.
The London Mela is sponsored by BAA and is supported by the Mayor of London. Ealing Council will be be organising and hosting this event on behalf of The Greater London Authority.
Entry to the event on Sunday 17th August is free. Gates will open at 12pm and close at 8.30pm
June
26, 2003