Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd July 2007
Werneth Park
Manchester Road
Oldham
Melas have been successful throughout the UK in a variety of sizes. The most successful Melas are held In Bradford, Birmingham, Leicester and Manchester and more recent to the list is the BBC Mega Mela.
The origin of the Oldham Mela dates back to the mid 90's. But since then it's had a chequered history, e.g. 2005 there was no Mela in Oldham.
Over the years it has shrunk in scale rather than expanded due to various factors, ranging from lack of adequate funding to sufficient organisation. In contrast, Melas around the country have expanded.
The 2006 Mela was produced by a new young vibrant team from the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham. Coming to a Mela in Oldham you are immediately aware of collective celebration in the colourful costumes of the people and in the arts and crafts. You will quickly be immersed in the bazaar where you will smell the aromas of the east. Traders sell clothes, fabrics, jewellery, crafts and many other items. You can mingle with people from Oldham and surrounding areas
You might see a colourful Multicultural dancer. You might see giant puppets made by local people. You might see break dancing And every year you will see groups from Oldham and other parts of England - people from diverse cultures living here, continuing and developing the traditions of countries from which they or their parents have come.
You will also come across henna painting, an increasingly popular body art. You might find an astrologer. The kids will find lots to do. There are places just to rest and chat, the most important activity at the Mela is to enjoy yourself. Every year it is growing as more people bring new ideas to an already dynamic mix.
Oldham Mela seeks partnerships at home and abroad with like-minded individuals and organisations to help create new opportunities. Flexibility allows us to respond to new ideas. As the Mela grows into maturity, this young organisation will change and develop.
To continue its successful development, Oldham Mela of the future will be
Flexible Open Innovative Dynamic Magic
Our Mela should reflect multiple streams of humanity flowing together in harmony
Rivers of tradition
R ivers of past
R ivers of present
R ivers of modernity
It is these flowing rivers that we are part of and it is these rivers of future that you are helping to create.
The Mela 2007 is fully supported by the Local Authority as well as by the Local Business Communities.
Information © Oldham Mela