The Edinburgh Mela

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The Edinburgh Mela was founded in 1995 by members of the city's minority ethnic communities. The first festival was held in Meadowbank Stadium and quickly grew to attract 20,000 people each year. It was the first Mela in Scotland and has gained a strong reputation in the UK.

In 2000 the festival moved to Pilrig Park and in recent years has drawn large numbers of people over the weekend.

A carnival atmosphere with a vibrant and exciting mix of theatre, dance
and music, the Edinburgh Mela Festival is a lively event for all the family.
It celebrates cultural diversity in the form of a Mela, a South Asian festival and a Sanskrit word meaning gathering.

In Edinburgh each year it gathers some of the finest talent from across Scotland and the UK as well as international artists and present them in a vibrant and exciting environment with interactive opportunities for children and families and a food and craft market. It includes music, multi art performances, dance and physical performances, visual arts, theatre and film

It takes place in August at Pilrig Park.