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VIDEO: Thousands celebrate Mela's 21st anniversary (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting TANEWS to 80360, or email
VIDEO: Thousands celebrate Mela's 21st anniversary
7:26pm Sunday 14th June 2009 in News
By James Rush, T&A Reporter
Babu Calwa and Shonja Nat perform at the Mela
Tens of thousands of people flocked to the Bradford Mela over the weekend to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the international event.
A host of musicians, artists and dancers provided entertainment for the crowds stretching across Peel Park, displaying an international mix of cultures, communities and creativity, as well as food stalls, street theatre and a funfair.
Organisers of this year’s Mela hoped to create a family atmosphere with attractions such as the Hive – an interactive arena where children enjoyed workshops with themes of bees, flowers, nature and the environment.
One of the largest attractions was the Mango Stage where thousands watched performers such as bhangra pioneer Channi Singh of Alaap and Jazzy B, from Canada, who has fast become one of the best selling bhangra artists in the world.
A new stage introduced at this year’s event was the Peel Stage, where the city’s rising musical talent were able to perform, including the likes of Bradford’s own rock outfit Faze and more acoustic based Wilful Missing.
Bradford Mela producer Ben Pugh said: “We have been working to make the event more family friendly and by providing more family stages and events what we are actually able to do is capture the essence of the many different cultures that are represented in Bradford.”
Related links
Mr Pugh estimated about 2,500 people had worked together to bring the Mela to realisation – and expected the crowds to top 100,000.
Councillor Adrian Naylor, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, said the Bradford Mela, the first in Europe, helped give the city a worldwide recognition.
He said: “In terms of businesses this is a great showcase, as you walk around you see everything, from the voluntary sector to the private sector.
Restaurateur Omar Khan hosted and provided food for the VIP area. He said: “This is something that is excellent for all the communities getting together and being part of each other’s cultures and knowing each others cultures.”
Saleem Kader, managing director of Bombay Stores Group, said his company sponsored the Mela. He said: “Commercially we don’t really make the money back, but what’s more important for us is the association with the Mela.”
Comments(15)
Warthog
says...
11:32am Mon 15 Jun 09
Cakeface
says...
11:34am Mon 15 Jun 09
albion
says...
12:51pm Mon 15 Jun 09
Cakeface wrote:I agree! I had an enjoyable afternoon in Leeds.
This is something that is excellent for all the communities getting together and being part of each other’s cultures and knowing each others cultures.....
albion
says...
12:51pm Mon 15 Jun 09
Cakeface wrote:I agree! I had an enjoyable afternoon in Leeds.
This is something that is excellent for all the communities getting together and being part of each other’s cultures and knowing each others cultures.....
albion
says...
12:53pm Mon 15 Jun 09
Cakeface
says...
12:53pm Mon 15 Jun 09
albion wrote:yeh, I stayed in Kent!
Cakeface wrote: This is something that is excellent for all the communities getting together and being part of each other’s cultures and knowing each others cultures.....I agree! I had an enjoyable afternoon in Leeds.
Iona Cortina
says...
2:28pm Mon 15 Jun 09
albion wrote:Lol ! :D
No i didnt go twice.
btw, glad all the racist comments have been removed.
Take that, BNP chavs :)
capacioustraverse
says...
7:55pm Mon 15 Jun 09
albion
says...
9:30pm Mon 15 Jun 09
capacioustraverse wrote:Are they? I cant see that.
I see the neo-fascist curmudgeons are upset that their posts have been removed by some insensitive gatekeepers(ha ha )- oh! what a pity!
mezza
says...
7:36am Tue 16 Jun 09
jimmyblue
says...
12:40pm Wed 17 Jun 09
They were more asian clothes stalls and asian food stalls than anything else. Why not just turn the event into another cannon mills...
As for more things for the kids, where were they because i didnt see any thing apart from the tent were kids could do abit of colouring etc.
For it being the 21st birthday of the bradford Mela, it was very dissapointing to say the least...
It is becoming more of a yob/ groupy event than a family orientated event.
mezza
says...
8:44pm Wed 17 Jun 09
jimmyblue wrote:thankyou jimmyblue glad you agree also hate cannon mills!
I am asian, and most the posts are write in what they say. Every year the mela brags about how much more better it will be and how more multicultural it will be...Never happens..!!!...
They were more asian clothes stalls and asian food stalls than anything else. Why not just turn the event into another cannon mills...
As for more things for the kids, where were they because i didnt see any thing apart from the tent were kids could do abit of colouring etc.
For it being the 21st birthday of the bradford Mela, it was very dissapointing to say the least...
It is becoming more of a yob/ groupy event than a family orientated event.
Oakenshaw white
says...
7:44pm Thu 18 Jun 09
Woman, 89, injured in park attack
The assault happened near to Lister Park's bandstand
An 89-year-old woman has been left seriously injured after a "despicable attack" by a group of youths in a park in Bradford.
The victim suffered a dislocated shoulder and fractures to her arm and hip when she was pushed over in Lister Park, Manningham, on Wednesday.
West Yorkshire Police described the four suspects as Asian or Eastern European males aged 15 to 18.
They stole the woman's bag containing her bus pass and about £30 in cash.
The victim, who runs a local keep fit class, was walking with another woman when she was attacked near a bandstand.
Her 79-year-old friend was unhurt but "shaken", police said.
Det Insp Patrick O'Neill, from Bradford South CID, said: "This was a despicable attack on an elderly lady.
"The 89-year-old victim is very active for her age but is now bed-ridden in hospital because of these people."
He added: I'm also appealing to the local community.
"If you know who did this then please tell us - don't protect these suspects. The victim could have been your mother or grandmother."
hy they have not reported this story,
Crusader88
says...
10:04am Fri 19 Jun 09
Because every year we take a trip out.
This year we had a great day out in the Scarborough sunshine.
And, on another note, why are the Hammer & Sickle,...sorry,...t
he Telegraph & Argus censoring/deleting posts?
And why is there no option for commenting on both the stories of asian "thug" youths assaulting elederly white people?
Do the T&A fear that public opinion may tarnish their biased propaganda?
Do you honestly believe that had those 3 elderly folk been asian, they'd have still been attacked? i very much doubt it, admit it, it was a racist assault.
its johnny says...
9:56am Mon 15 Jun 09