Past Melas

Mela 2011

The main stage’s outstanding line up of national and international artists attracted crowds all day and around site the various activities were popular as ever – with 17,000 of you experiencing South Asia Arts. Read More»

Mela 2010

Southampton Mela Festival 2010 attracted over 25,000 people - its biggest audience in the festival’s eight year history. Read More»

Mela 2009

On Saturday 18 July 2009, despite the drizzling rain 20,000 people enjoyed the many highlights including groups such as Botown, Indus, Desi Nach, Kala the Arts and Rakhi Sood.
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Mela 2008

The Southampton Mela Festival last year was a wonderful day on so many levels, some say our best ever! We shared a day of sunshine, top entertainment, colourful stalls and great food with an amazing 23,000 people.

The live music and dance on the main stage varied from South Asian Classical, Folk, World Music, Qawwali, Asian fusion, Bhangra to Bollywood.
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Mela 2007

Once again Hoglands Park was full of the colours, sounds and smells of South-Asia. Despite the very wet weather people from the local and surrounding communities came together to have fun and celebrate traditional and modern South-Asian culture. About 8,000 people attended the Mela creating their own sunshine on a very squelchy Saturday! The Mela festival is one of Southampton’s main cultural events and this year celebrated its 5th birthday. This yearly free festival brings together thousands of visitors enjoying a variety of music and dance, fabulous food and a wide range of family activities.
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Mela 2006

Thousands of people, mouth-watering cuisine, colour, dance and excellent music was the scene at Southampton Mela 2006!

20,000 people came along on the day to celebrate Art Asia's 25th birthday with us whilst enjoying a huge range of music, dance and fun activities and also taking part in a range of workshops.
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Mela 2005

The 2005 Mela Festival started with a bang and was as promised, bigger and better than ever. 15,000 people soaked up the sun, and enjoyed a huge range of music, dance and fun activities – as well as browsing a wide selection of stalls and the ever-popular food court.
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Mela 2004

Up to 8,000 people from around the South turned up to enjoy the first Mela in Hoglands Park which featured performances from top Indian Classical and Asian Fusion musicians, DJs and leading Bollywood and Bhangra artists. The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Southampton Councillor Parvin Damani delighted the audience by opening the Mela and letting balloons soar skywards – this signified the way the day went UP!
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