Kirklees Mela
Sunday 15th July 2007
cancelled due to bad weather and flooding
Each year on a Sunday in July the Kirklees Mela provides an exhilarating display of international, national and local talent - musicians, dancers and artists, crafts, fashion, food, bazaar, children's activities. The emphasis is on a safe and supportive environment, thus giving opportunities for all the community members and visitors to fully enjoy and participate in the events.
True to its meaning as a Sanskrit word the Kirklees Mela is a ‘gathering’ of all sorts of community events and activities for all sorts of communities Kirklees Mela was founded in 1990 by Kirklees Council in consultation with members of Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi communities. One of its key objectives from the outset was for everyone to reflect on and celebrate Kirklees’ cultural diversity, though the Mela itself retained its roots in the South Asian communities.
Kirklees Mela does much to ensure that this one day annual spectacle tries to forge partnerships between the local community and businesses to make the event a huge success. The Kirklees Mela, whilst having developed a regional and national appeal, has always focused on needs of the local community. The festival is, by nature, a community event and most of the people in attendance on the day are from Kirklees communities.
The event provides a vital platform for local artists and performers and has a history of encouraging local actors, dancers and visual artists, who perform alongside national and international stars.
The Kirklees Mela takes place annually in Greenhead Park, a wonderful Victorian park just a 10 minute walk from Huddersfield Town Centre with its excellent links, by road, rail and public transport not only to West Yorkshire but to the North of England. Attendances to this event have increased year on year, reaching an estimated attendance of over 25,000 in 2006. The 2007 mela is on Sunday 15 July.
