On the 26th August 2012 over 20,000 visitors will once again be treated to the sights, sounds and smells of ethnic origins as one of the North’s flagship arts festivals, the Mela (meaning ‘to meet’) take places at Belfast’s beautiful Botanic Gardens. This year’s event is jam packed with a show stopping line up featuring music, dance, food, fashion, street theatre, circus and carnival from across the globe, all presented in a high energy, vivid and vital day out.

An iconic brand of British Bhangra, DCS, will headline the Mela’s World Stage who are dubbed as one of the best live Bhangra bands in the world. A powerhouse of production, creativity, innovation and talent, the DCS sound is for all generations gaining worldwide recognition and international airplay. They will be supported by Congolese musician, singer songwriter Niwel Tsumbu & The Heartbeat who crafts his own distinctive fusion of new jazz, rhumba, rock, flamenco, soukous and classical.   

Returning to the Mela, will be the Jaipur Kawa Brass Band who will lead the opening Parade of Cultures. Providing a rousing musical extravaganza and the soul of the contemporary India, they come with a beautifully costumed Gypsy Sapera Kalbelya dancer, whose choreography represents the contortions of the cobra- the guardian of spiritual truth- and a genuine fakir, whose sabre swallowing, extreme juggling and stupendous balancing skills have to be seen to be believed.

Other highlights of the programme include a street theatre production, ‘Chutney in the Street’, commissioned by UK street arts consortium Without Walls. A specially-formed troupe of professional musicians, singers and dancers will perform an original piece with new songs inspired by the popular musical style of the Indo-Caribbean communities of Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname.

The Maharaja Tent is brand new to this year’s festival and will introduce a fourth stage to the event. Taking inspiration from Indian royalty, palaces and places, and housed in magnificent Norwegian ‘Kata’ tipis, this tent will host classical arts performances in intimate, opulent surroundings away from the main hustle and bustle of the Mela. Returning will be the increasingly popular ‘Culture Land’, which is an interactive arts learning experience for young people where they are taken on a literal journey around the world.

The Mela will also feature seven amazing zones including a world food market, a community showcase area featuring local artistic talent, a global souk, street arts shows, a health & sports zone promoting traditional South Asian sports, and community outreach showcases. With a variety of treats in every corner of Botanic Gardens, the Belfast Mela is one fantastic cultural experience you will not want to miss!