A mega Mela! (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

A mega Mela!

78667-11THE Town Gardens were transformed with a touch of Asia spice at the Swindon Mela.

The all-day celebration of Asian arts and culture on Saturday had something to tempt every sense.

Despite the odd spot of rain, around 1,500 people flocked to this year's event to enjoy traditional music, food, dance and crafts .

As well as live entertainment on the bandstand and in the Bowl, there were stalls selling everything from jewellery and accessories to spices, pickles, and arts and crafts.

Queues snaked around the park as hungry visitors waited in line at the eight stalls selling Punjabi, Gujerati and Halal food, as well as delicious Indian ice cream and sweets.

The Mela was opened by Swindon Mayor Ray Fisher and Kamla Ladwa, the wife of Dhiru Ladwa, the founder of the event, who died in April.

Mrs Ladwa said: "It's wonderful to be here, but sad at the same time.

The festival has grown so much since my husband first started it off in 2003 and now it's bigger and better than ever.

"I am sure my husband would have been very proud of this year's event."

A range of performers entertained the crowds including Stereo Nation, Jassi Sidhu, The Safri Boys and The Angel Dancers.

There was also a Bollywood dance class, fashion show and a Sikh martial arts demonstration.

For those who wanted to kick back and relax there was a health zone featuring Indian massage and Reiki.

The activity zone included cookery demonstrations and instruction in the art of sari tying, rangoli and block printing.

Among the crowds was Melba Sheffield, 43, from West Swindon, who created this year's Mela cake of which hundreds of visitors had a slice. She said: "It took me eight hours to ice the cake and I was up until three o'clock in the morning. My 16-year-old daughter Samantha baked seven cakes which I then put together as one.

"We used 56 eggs and I have no idea how much flour. But everybody seems to like the taste."

Sheniz Ismet, 35, from Stratton, who was at the Mela with her nephews Emrah, six, and Erhan, 10, said: "The Mela is great. It's lively, it's colourful and it's a great way to celebrate different cultures. There is a really good atmosphere here."

Sarah Fitzgerald, 34, of Old Town was at the Mela with her six-year-old son Tom. She said: "It's very good. I came last year and had a fabulous time and it's just as good the second time round. It's good to have such a multi cultural event in Swindon."

The free entertainment carried on until 7pm, when a ticketed concert featuring Alaap and Mona Singh began.

Toby Rathbone, festivals and events officer at Swindon Council, said: "The Mela was absolutely fantastic this year just a really great event. I suppose the best thing about it was that there was such a friendly atmosphere between all the different parts of the community. There was a real mix of people and there was something there for everyone."

More photographs appear in today's Swindon Advertiser