Mela

Mela

• Venue: Peoples Park
• Saturday
  12:00 - 18:00 | Free
• Performance & Special Events

Be transported to South Asia for a day! Our Mela celebration is a colourful blast of South Asian arts, flavours and creativity.

Don’t miss the famous fun-filled Kawa Circus from Rajasthan in India, performing astounding acrobatics, magical circus skills and traditional Rajasthani folk dance, music and song.  From the Indian State of Karnataka, witness vibrant theatre performed by the Yakshagana Kendra group and be captivated by the dance and rituals of the Drepung Loseling Monastery Monks.

This year’s Mela offers stunning music performances from India and beyond, traditional dance from the Punjab and percussion with a South Asian twist. Step into our Zen Garden and relax to the unique sounds of Postcards From India, an installation by artist Fiona Larkin. Children are invited to create lotus flowers by the fountains or attend storytelling workshops under the Indian Singing Tree.

As you browse around colourful Mela Markets hosting superb cuisine and crafts, look up to find beautiful Tibetan Prayer Flags designed by local school children. Continue on to admire hand made Tibetan prayer wheels and the mini Hindu Temple created by the Hindu Cultural Centre of Ireland. Choose a colourful bindi, take a ride on our traditional style Carousel or stop off at the hands-on exhibition Muraqqa: Imperial Albums from the Chester Beatty Library, to try on saris and turbans. And remember…save some energy for the celebratory Bollywood Disco at the end of the day.