Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News

24 August 2010

One of the unmissable highlights of Belfast’s cultural calendar the Belfast Mela will take place at Botanic Gardens on Sunday, 29 August from 12 to 6pm. Mela meaning ‘gathering’ has become one of the North’s leading multi-cultural festivals providing opportunities for people from all backgrounds to share food, music, creativity and culture in a friendly atmosphere.

Highlights include Jassi Sidhu, one of the UK’s most sought after ‘Bhangra’ artists and ‘Harare’ – a Zimbabwean urban dance collective.

New elements in the programme this year include a commitment to support minority ethnic women as artists with unique performances from Eternal Taal and Ulfah Collective. Eternal Taal is an all women professionally trained ‘Dhol’ drumming group while the Ulfah Collective dubbed the Muslim ‘Sister Act are the UK’s first all women Muslim vocal group.

The Belfast Mela will continue to have its much loved world food market, craft village, ethnic bazaar, and a newly developed children’s area ‘Culture Land’- where children can learn about world cultures through music, song and dance. This is a new area of the Mela that has been specially designed to engage children in a lively cultural experience. Developed in partnership with a range of local community and ethnic artists, public sector agencies and charities, this interactive arts experience completes a visit to the Mela weekend for any family with young children.

Finally, Arts Ekta has teamed up with the Dun Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures to bring the ‘Postcards from India’ sound installation by Belfast –based artist, Fiona Larkin to the Mela. Set to the backdrop of a soundtrack of life in India, postcards reflect the stories and memories relayed by members of the Indian communities in the North and South of Ireland. This is a unique way to experience India, Indian people in Ireland, celebrations, music, faith and home.

For more information please visit Belfast MELA WEBSITE.