Saturday 19 July 2008, Hoglands Park

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.

We had workshops and demonstrations in Music & Dance. Plus lots of family fun with a range of Arts & Crafts activities, a designated play area and a funfair.

Over 60 stalls ranging from ethnic clothes and accessories, beauty and henna hand tattooing, food, arts & crafts and community.

This year we welcomed two new zones; The K2 Festival Youth Zone had performances from talented up and coming artists. Southampton City Primary Care Trust with Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust hosted a very popular the Health Zone;

Among the many highlights we had some amazing Hampshire talent. The Fusion Project, now in its second year saw over 80 young musicians from Bitterne Park Secorndary School and Bevois Town Primary return to the stage with a specially-composed piece by Dr. Rajeeb Chakraborty. And back from their tour around South Africa, the South Africa PANJAZZ Project certainly got us in the festival mood.

If you did come, we do hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did. For those that couldn’t make it, click here to see the photographs by Murray Freestone. 

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