Sunday 26 July, 2pm-7pm
Chestnuts Showground, behind Walthamstow Town Hall
Forest Road
Walthamstow E17 4JA
This year the Mela has moved home from Aveling Park over to Chestnut Showground behind the Town Hall in Forest Road allowing the Mela easier access by public transport.
The Mela has been happening in Waltham Forest for the past twenty odd years and every year this very successful event attracts big crowds who come along to soak up the atmosphere, taste the spicy food on sale and watch and enjoy the stage entertainment.
A fun fair and children’s entertainment that includes bouncy castles provide fun for the younger members of the audience whilst the adults wander the stalls of jewellery, saris and henna painting, taste the food and watch the acts on the stage.
Stage entertainment has always been an important part of the Mela and in previous years the crowd has danced and joined in, this year will be no different with a line up of exciting acts.
The event starts at 2pm and continues until 7pm with free admission.
Nearest station Walthamstow Central.
Bus routes along Forest Road 123, 275 and 212
History of Mela
Melas originate from the Indian sub continent. The word Mela comes from the Sanskrit "to meet" and is related to "milana" the verb to tune. It is commonly used to describe a large gathering of people celebrating artistic, religious or political events - a fair or a festival. In the same way that many fairs or holidays in Europe would begin on the feast days of saints. Melas in south Asia have their origins in religious gatherings such as Diwali, Eid or Vaisakhi.
Celebrations form an immeasurably important part of the sub-continent's fabric. Melas are feasts of sights, smells, sounds and tastes and will often feature bazaars, folk troupes, traditional and contemporary music and dance.
From the desert Melas of Rajasthan to the Baisakhi Melas of Bangladesh, Melas are held throughout South Asia. Audiences can vary in size from a few hundred to a few million; the Kumbh Mela held in four locations every twelve years attracts 2.5 million people over a 24 hour period.
