Stars light up London Mela 2014 – pictures

September 1 2014

SOME people see it as the last hurrah of summer and it certainly brings the crowds out – the all day celebration of South Asian culture in London ended with a rousing finale performance from Punjabi singing sensation, Miss Pooja on the main stage.

She was preceeded by a welter of talent, including British Sri Lankan fave Arjun, festival favourite, Panjabi Hit Squad, and headline acts Asim Azhar, described as the Pakistani Justin Bieber, and chart-topping Raghav, all the way over from Canada and reprising some of his best-known tunes as well as a new track that will feature when he returns to the UK later in the year.

Largely funded by the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, thousands of people flocked to Gunnersbury Park on the edge of Ealing in West London, to enjoy the music and entertainment, sample the myraid cuisine and snap up freebies and special offers mounted by the retailers on their stalls.

As usual, there were several stages, each catering to a different type of taste and whether it was essential bhangra or classical Tamilian music, there was something for everyone.

Festival goers were treated to a fine day weatherwise and made the most of all that was on offer.

The London Mela, now in its 12th year, is produced by Ealing and Hounslow Councils and supported by the Mayor and Arts Council England. Other partners included the BBC Asian Network (which looks after main stage and new music tent), Lycamobile, Oxfam and Care Pakistan.

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