Mela
Every year the Eastleigh Asian Welfare and Cultural Assocation coordinate a range of events to engage with the local community. Arguably the most established and well known is the annual Mela.
"Mela" is the Sanskrit word meaning 'meeting', 'fair' or 'gathering' and 'celebrations' of all kinds.
Outside of Asia, this has further developed into intercultural celebrations and festivals. These festivals have comprised of music, dance and food from a variety of cultures.
Since the 1980s Melas have been regularly held in large towns with significant ethnic minority populations, but many Melas are also held in communities where these populations are quite small and Eastleigh is one of them.
Aims of Eastleigh Mela
We believe that community ownership is important and is an opportunity to celebrate the similarities and respect for each other.
We therefore thrive to be a place where we can showcase regional dancers/ music and provide opportunities for local artists and performers to demonstrate their skills and talents.
We hope to promote Community integration and harmony by celebrating Eastleigh's rich heritage and communities.
The Mela also gives us an opportunity to advance better understanding of each other through the medium of music, traditional dance and sharing of food.
Local businesses and organisation are given the opportunity to have stalls, which enables them to contribute to better information and commercial opportunities.
Previous Melas
The first Mela was held in 2006 through a partnership with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service who kindly provided their grounds and was called Eastleigh Mini Mela. This Mela attracted about 1500 "curious" and "interested" people. The Mela has continued to build on this through support from Eastleigh Borough Council, especially Crispian Cook and Marie Negus and consistent support from Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.
We also moved from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service HQ to Leigh Road recreation ground, which is in the centre of Eastleigh and is close to the train and bus stations. The map below highlights the location.
Every year the Eastleigh Asian Welfare and Cultural Assocation coordinate a range of events to engage with the local community. Arguably the most established and well known is the annual Mela.
"Mela" is the Sanskrit word meaning 'meeting', 'fair' or 'gathering' and 'celebrations' of all kinds.
Outside of Asia, this has further developed into intercultural celebrations and festivals. These festivals have comprised of music, dance and food from a variety of cultures.
Since the 1980s Melas have been regularly held in large towns with significant ethnic minority populations, but many Melas are also held in communities where these populations are quite small and Eastleigh is one of them.
Aims of Eastleigh Mela
We believe that community ownership is important and is an opportunity to celebrate the similarities and respect for each other.
We therefore thrive to be a place where we can showcase regional dancers/ music and provide opportunities for local artists and performers to demonstrate their skills and talents.
We hope to promote Community integration and harmony by celebrating Eastleigh's rich heritage and communities.
The Mela also gives us an opportunity to advance better understanding of each other through the medium of music, traditional dance and sharing of food.
Local businesses and organisation are given the opportunity to have stalls, which enables them to contribute to better information and commercial opportunities.
Previous Melas
The first Mela was held in 2006 through a partnership with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service who kindly provided their grounds and was called Eastleigh Mini Mela. This Mela attracted about 1500 "curious" and "interested" people. The Mela has continued to build on this through support from Eastleigh Borough Council, especially Crispian Cook and Marie Negus and consistent support from Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service.
We also moved from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service HQ to Leigh Road recreation ground, which is in the centre of Eastleigh and is close to the train and bus stations. The map below highlights the location.