Foods of the world at 15th Belfast Mela
Belfast Mela is back for 2021, celebrating the best of culturally diverse food, music, dance and much more besides.
The 15th Mela, sponsored by Sensata Technologies, is taking a slightly different form this year having gone virtual in 2020 due to Covid.
Instead of the normal showcase in Botanic Gardens, the festival will take place across the city this year, starting on Monday 23 August and running until Sunday 29 August.
UTV’s Paul O’Reilly and U105’s Carolyn Stewart and will host a free Mini Mela celebration on Saturday 28 August transforming the city centre into a global village with a pop-up programme of music, dance and art.
However, all week starting from Monday 23 August, ArtsEkta, organisers of the Belfast Mela will be bringing the magic of Mela to outdoor spaces and venues across the city, with highlights including a Silk Road Supper Club evening, a Caribbean Carnival night and Taste the World at St George’s Market.
Nisha Tandon OBE, founder of Belfast Mela and director of ArtsEkta said: “Seven is a very special number for this year’s Belfast Mela Festival, with the seven continents and the seven seas we decided to put on seven days of Mela to reflect Northern Ireland’s growing diverse communities from all over the world.
‘Wonderful events’
“Following our successful Virtual Mela at Home last year which attracted an audience of over a quarter of million people worldwide, we are optimistic that given the current vaccine roll out in Northern Ireland we will be able to put on a series of wonderful events across the city this August.
“While it will not be possible again this year to hold the large-scale event at Botanic Gardens which normally attracts in excess of 30,000 people, we want to make sure the joy and positivity for which the Belfast Mela is renowned reaches as many people as possible while respecting current public health guidance as we emerge from the pandemic cautiously.
“Therefore, we are planning a week-long programme this summer, with exciting events being organised in a variety of venues and public places in different parts of the city which everyone can enjoy in a safe and responsible way. Audiences can look forward to a spectacular return of Mela at Botanic Gardens in 2022.”
Tickets for selected Belfast Mela events are available to book via https://belfastmela.org.uk.
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