This year’s Belfast Mela Festival is bigger and better than ever before, taking place over nine days which started with an amazing FREE Mela Carnival today (Saturday 19 August) through the streets of Belfast, followed by Mela Plus events across the city this week including a new Mela Colours event on Saturday 26 August, leading up to the annual Mela Day extravaganza in Botanic Gardens on Sunday 27 August.
Northern Ireland’s largest cultural diversity festival, the 17th Belfast Mela, sponsored by Sensata Technologies invites the world back into the heart of the city with an amazing line-up of global music, dance, art, theatre, wellbeing and food.
More than 1,000 participants representing more than 20 different cultural groups and from neighbourhoods across the city took part in Mela Carnival Parade through Belfast City Centre today, led by the Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Ryan Murphy and Belfast Mela Founder Nisha Tandon with pulsating world music and dance and amazing sculptures. There was also a Global Village at City Hall with live performances on stage hosted by U105’s Carolyn Stewart and UTV’s Paul Reilly along with food and arts workshops.
Dr. Nisha Tandon, OBE, Founder of Belfast Mela and Director of ArtsEkta said: “We are so proud to have been working with hundreds of artists and thousands of participants to produce this year’s nine-day Belfast Mela Festival. There really is something for everyone at this year’s festival including our wonderful new Colours event at Botanic Gardens next Saturday before our traditional Mela Day next Sunday.”
Saturday 26 August – NEW FOR 2023 – Mela Colours at Botanic Gardens – 1pm to 5pm. High energy colour party throughout the afternoon with DJ on stage, dancers and live drumming. Hosted by emerging presenter and comedian Bronagh Diamond and U105’s Carolyn Stewart.
Sunday 27 August: Mela Day at Botanic Gardens – 12 noon to 6pm The city’s annual celebration of global cultures hosted by U105’s Carolyn Stewart and UTV’s Paul Reilly. Look out for the new Little Asia Corner plus a special Mughal Miniatures performance along with performances and workshops by Mexican Artist in residence Paula Herrera Martinez from Danzariega working with local artist Mayte Segura, a renewable fashion show Culture Clash with Another World Belfast, international food demonstrations and the premiere of the South Asian Dance Academy’s new Bombay Dreams original finale.
Full Mela 2023 Programme available online here https://belfastmela.org.uk/mela-plus/#book-events