A feast of cultural music, dance, food and crafts from around the world featured at the fifth annual Belfast Mela which took place at the city’s Botanic Garden’s at the weekend

Over 18,000 people enjoyed the event, which is billed as Northern Ireland’s largest multi-cultural festival.

 The Mela, meaning ‘to meet’ gave visitors the opportunity to sample  gourmet food from around the globe including Caribbean, Indian, Chinese, Thai and Polish cuisine. While 20 top class international and home grown acts from the world of music, dance and visual arts including Belfast Community Gospel Choir, Canadian based headliners ‘Delhi 2 Dublin’ and Bollywood dancers ‘Three Bee’ entertained the crowds.

 Nisha Tandon, Director of Arts Ekta, Northern Ireland’s award-winning ethnic arts organisation and creators of the Belfast Mela, said:

 “Now in our fifth year, this year’s Mela has been the biggest and best to date. The Garden’s are packed to capacity, the atmosphere has been fantastic and the weather has been on our side.”

 “Northern Ireland is becoming increasingly diverse and the Belfast Mela is the perfect opportunity for people across all communities and cultures to embrace and celebrate what it is that makes us all so unique. We are delighted to so many people – from all cultures – attending today. This kind of support demonstrates how we are all committed to celebrating the diversity within our society.” Nisha added.

 As well as a fantastic line-up of music and dance, this year’s Mela featured seven zones including a world food market incorporating a global cookery theatre, a global bazaar and eastern shopping area, a health zone offering alternative therapies and herbal treatments from across the world, Culture Land – an interactive cultural learning experience for young people and brand new to this year’s festival was the ‘Mela Cinema’ which offered visitors the chance to sample Bollywood and Polish film in an eye-catching inflatable cinema