Weston Mela is a free family event that will celebrate the rich ethnic diversity of our community. Originally from South Asia, a mela is a cultural gathering and celebration.
Mela. / (miːlə, ˈmɛlə) / noun - from the Sanskrit “to meet”, related to “milana” the verb to mix, to tune, to come together and used to describe a large gathering of people; a fair or a festival.
This year is the 36th Anniversary of the first Mela festival in the UK, which started in Nottingham in 1988. Since then many cities and towns now host their own Melas to celebrate the diversity of cultures that make up their community.
Many in the community feel it is time for Weston to host a similar celebration and the planning is being led by members of the Indian, Bangladeshi, Afghan, Ukrainian, Afro-Caribbean and other groups all coming together, with the support of Race Equality North Somerset.
As the first Mela in North Somerset, it aims to bring the community together through food, music and dance, to share and celebrate culture from South Asia and other cultures represented in North Somerset.
This independent community event is being run by the community, for all the community, and many are already contributing ideas, talent, time and skills to create a radical, fresh and new annual cultural event in North Somerset.
By bringing all the community together in this way, we are seeking to build bridges, showcase talent, foster wider cultural understanding and promote community harmony at a time when a small minority seek to create division through racial prejudice.
While the Mela is only being made possible because of all the people who are volunteering their time, we do need finance for many of the basics - and for a few extras that will make this a day to remember with wonderful performances, flavourful food, and new friends.
We hope this year will be just the start, and with your help we can ensure that this can become an annual, family-friendly, park-friendly, sustainable and community-led event that can promote and showcase the positivity and cultural wealth in Weston in particular and across North Somerset in general, building a stronger and richer community for us all.
If you would like to support the Mela is other ways, please do get in touch [email protected].