A day of music and dance with an international flavour brought thousands of visitors to Peel Park for Bradford Mela.

Two stages offered performances from acts representing an array of cultures during ten hours of live entertainment yesterday. The eclectic mix was complemented by a curious collection of street performers.

Hardened music fans huddled round the stage areas despite the rain, which did appear to have an impact on the Bradford Council-run event’s overall attendance.

There was Bhangra from established British Asian band DCS, Bollywood, Pakistani gawali singers, breakdancers and traditional Polish music to bend visitors’ ears among a bill of 300-plus performances.

For those after a bit of sustenance, there was a wealth of international dishes to tickle the taste buds and families strolled round more than 200 stalls, some offering hands-on craft workshops and others selling goods.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Naveeda Ikram, welcomed visitors from across the district as well as people who had travelled from as far away as the Midlands to be there.

She told the Telegraph & Argus: “I’ve been coming to the Mela since 1995. It’s always been a case of getting together with a group of 40 or 50 family and friends to enjoy the music and performances.

“To me it is a very important event for Bradford. It brings different communities and people of all ages together for a good time.”

Peadar Long, of Dublin and one half of “battery-powered pop” act The Krape Twins, said: “The Mela is the biggest and best of its kind. There is a lot of good things going on in Bradford between the white British and Asian communities and this is a fine example.”

  • Read the full story Monday’s T&A