Edinburgh Mela | a festival of world music, dance, fashion, food and fun. Edinburgh Mela. Mela Festival Logo The Edinburgh Mela is an annual multi-cultural festival held in Edinburgh, Scotland,and is one of the 12 festivals that make up the Edinburgh Festival. The first mela, a Sanskrit word meaning "gathering" or "to meet", was held in 1995 at Meadowbank Stadium, and was organised by members of the city's minority ethnic communities. The festival moved to Pilrig Park in 2000, and to Leith Links in 2010.[1] Running over three days in September, the event attracts around 20 to 25,000 people each year.[2] Creative Scotland said "The [2010] program aimed to and successfully reflected a range of cultural influences and intercultural influences through the selection of music, film, arts workshops and stalls.
The festival site contributed massively to the overall Mela programme offering a centre and focus for celebration, community togetherness and providing the context for a great family day out. " Outdoor Theatre at Edinburgh Mela Children and Families at Edinburgh Mela History[edit] Edinburgh Mela Festival - Edinburgh Festival Guide.
Mela Festival. Find out what's on in Edinburgh & The Lothians all year round by using the events listings below. Although the festivals run all year round, the summer months - and August in particular - are when festival fever reaches its height. August festivals The Edinburgh International Festival, founded in 1947, is the official centrepiece of Edinburgh’s festivals. Running for four weeks, this performing arts festival has world-class displays of theatre, dance and music. The Festival ends with a spectacular firework display at Edinburgh Castle. Why not play the Suggest My Fest app via the Festival Facebook page to help you choose what you'd like to see at the EIF?
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs alongside the International Festival. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is another August must-see. Another August festival is the Edinburgh International Book Festival, staged in the elegant surroundings of the city centre's Charlotte Square. Film, science and storytelling East Lothian festivals. (1) The Edinburgh Mela. Edinburgh Mela (31 August–1 September 2013) Founded in 1995 to showcase the talents of Edinburgh’s ethnic minorities, Edinburgh Mela has now grown to regularly attract more than 20,000 people to its extraordinary range of theatre, dance, music and art each August, and it doesn’t take much to see why. Taking its name from the Sanskrit word for 'gathering' or 'to meet', Mela has come to represent the widest reaches of the Edinburgh festivals, attracting the most exciting and colourful acts from southern Asia, as modern Scotland's diverse mix of heritage and culture is celebrated in style. And though it may last only one weekend, you’d be hard-pushed to miss the Bollywood-meets-Holyrood magic on offer, with bhangra beats, dance workshops, food from around the world and a wardrobe of costumes that Grace Jones would blush at.
Just don’t expect to get away without joining in the fun yourself. Official website: www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk. Edinburgh Mela 2013 brings The Orb to Leith Links. Mark the 1st of September in your calendar as it will probably be one of the best days of the year to be in Edinburgh, thanks to the 2013 Edinburgh Mela. Festival Director, Chris Purnell, has made no secret of his ambitions to push the profile of the Mela, and it would seem that he’s certainly managed to pull off a bit of a coup by bringing “90′s dance pioneers” The Orb to Leith Links, as part of a collaboration with the Kakatsitsi Master Drummers from Ghana.
The only other time these two acts have ever publicly collaborated was at this year’s Glastonbury Festival. Should you be wondering what on earth the fuss is about here’s a video showing how that collaboration went down at Glastonbury. We’ll not be the first folk to point out that a ticket for Glastonbury cost £205. The price to get into the Edinburgh Mela is a far more reasonable £4 for the whole weekend. Of course The Orb and the Kakatsistsi Master Drummers are not the only reason to take part with the Mela. Photo credit: Doop. Edinburgh Mela Festival. Edinburgh Mela | Festivals Edinburgh. Scotland’s leading celebration of cultural diversity through the arts, with international stars and UK based talent. A vibrant festival for all the family.Theatre, music, film, visual art and physical performance take place alongside a food and craft market.
With South Asian roots, Mela means ‘Gathering’ in the ancient language of Sanskrit – an event where the arts combine with opportunities to sample food and crafts from many cultures. With a passionate commitment to showcase some of the best work created in the UK and internationally by minority ethnic artists, or those who choose to work in a culturally diverse way, the Edinburgh Mela features innovative work that engages with important themes or that pushes at artistic boundaries to create new possibilities.
Time of Year: August Director: Chris Purnell Founded: 1995 Web: www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk. Edinburgh Mela Festival - Celebration Of Indian & South Asian Culture. Edinburgh Mela Festival | British Arts Festivals Association. MyHood | Edinburgh | Edinburgh Mela 2013. Edinburgh Mela. Times: Friday, August 29, 2014 - 6:00pm - Sunday, August 31, 2014 - 10:00pm As the names suggests, the annual "Mela" is a "festival" or "fair" with a South Asian flavour, but incorporating Scottish and international performances and artists for a multi-cultural flavoured mix. It was founded in 1995. In the space of an hour, you'll quite possibly watch African drumming, flamenco dancing, bhangra, and an emergency services demonstration, while chowing on hot samosas and sipping a chai tea.
And where else would you catch Rabbie Burns in Urdu? The Mela includes music on two stages, a kidzone, a dance fest, a market, and "global food village". The Mela returned to Leith Links in 2012, moving also to the end of the Edinburgh Festivals schedule over the first weekend in September. Tickets Entry fee is £4 for adults; under twelves get in free. Edinburgh Mela | Only In Edinburgh. Image not found: Image not found: Image not found: © Ros Gasson 2012 Address: Mela Festival North Edinburgh Arts Centre Edinburgh The Edinburgh Mela was founded in 1995 by members of the city’s minority ethnic communities. Map Data Map data ©2014 Google Map. Event photos - Edinburgh Mela festival by Photography Scotland. This is a selection of the photos I took for the Edinburgh Mela festival in 2012 and 2011.
The Edinburgh Mela festival is held on Leith Links in Edinburgh at the start of September each year. This year there was an additional festival stage dedicated entirely to dance. On Friday evening, there was also a spectacular free event to start the festival off. It was a pyrotechnic theatre show of the story of Rama and Sita. The festival is a fantastic event to photograph. You can find out ,more about the event on the Edinburgh Mela website. Click on any photo to view it larger. More photos from Rama & Sita, the Edinburgh Mela festival’s opening night event. I’m available to take photos at festivals and events. Edinburgh Mela set to welcome The Orb to capital - Scotland. EDINBURGH’S summer of festivals will be brought to a spectacular end by one of Britain’s most iconic dance music acts - after The Orb confirmed they are heading for Leith Links. The electronic music and “ambient house” pioneers will be headlining the Edinburgh Mela with an African drumming group they performed with to tens of thousands at Glastonbury over the weekend.
However the “big top” circus tent at the festival, the traditional finale of the capital’s festivals season, will have a capacity of just 1500. Unlike Glastonbury, which now costs more than £200-a-head, a ticket for the Edinburgh Mela will be just £4. Alex Paterson’s ground-breaking London outfit - formed 25 years ago - have been booked as part of a major rethink of the event under new director Chris Purnell, who was hired after making a huge success of the equivalent event in London. He said: “When I took over the reins last year we promised we would raise our game and we are delivering on that promise. Edinburgh Mela 2013! | Qi-Rattan. Price: tbc Date: Sat, Aug 31, 2013 Time: 12:30 pm - 1:20 pm Venue: Leith Links Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Purchase Tickets Come and join us and in a journey to gather and uplift your spirit with Mantra and Meditation!!
We look forward to meeting you all at the Edinburgh Mela, Scotland for amazing Sacred Sound and rhythm of Qi-Rattan accompanied by the very talented Ben Hazleton on bass, and Bruno D’Ambura on keyboard. Saturday 31st August 2013. Edinburgh Mela – multicultural festival of music and dance. Disclaimer Please note: the text contained in "Edinburgh Mela – multicultural festival of music and dance" has not been corrected, edited or verified by Demotix and is the raw text submitted by the photojournalist. All views and opinions expressed are that of the independent photojournalist and do not represent the views of Demotix Ltd.
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