On a healthier note the Mela Health Fair in association with the Health Promotion Agency, HAZ and Eastern Leicester Primary Care Trust will offer practical advice information on healthy living. Visitors will be able to receive a free health check and pick up information on health problems affecting the Asian community including diabetes and heart disease.

Through the Mela Community Village, in association with VAL, and Belgrave Association, small voluntary groups and organisations have received the chance to raise awareness around their work and offer visitors information on their projects. Funding agencies including East Midlands Arts and the Community Fund will also offer advice on grants and schemes available.

As well as the new attractions, be sure to check out the old favourites including the Bazaar were you can find all food, fashion and jewellery you will need, the Main Stage on which the famous Mela Fashion & Dance will be performed and last but by no means least, the much loved Fun Fair, full of rides for all ages.

Thanks to the support of our volunteers and sponsors the Leicester Belgrave Mela has come a long way in the 19 years of its existence. The festival started life as the Belgrave carnival in 1983 and included a small range of stalls, a procession and fund-raising activities. The event gained momentum year upon year and the name was changed to Belgrave Mela in 1986 to and finally to Leicester Belgrave Mela in 1999

People flock from around the country and, on occasion, around the world to experience the unique cultural atmosphere. Even though, the Leicester Belgrave Mela has a national appeal it has always focused on needs of the local community. The festival is, by nature, a community event and many of the people in attendance over the two days are from Leicester. The event provides a vital platform for local artists and performers. It has a long history of encouraging actors, dancers and visual artists.

The organization started life in 1983 as the Belgrave Carnival. It was renamed Belgrave Mela in 1986 (Mela meaning ‘gathering’) to reflect the cultural diversity within the community. In 1999 the name was changed to Leicester Belgrave Mela in recognition of its national success.

As a local voluntary project, the Mela does much to ensure that the two-day summer spectacle strives to forge a partnership with the local community and businesses to make the event a huge success that it is.

We run artist lead workshop programmes, training and development projects with the community. Our schedule of Asian Arts activities extends across the whole year to coincide with festivals such as Diwali and Navratri (Rangoli projects, community showcases and workshops in Asian Arts and Culture). These programmes now operate on an annual basis and have become a major part of our activities.

The Leicester Belgrave Mela is becoming more popular each year and is one of the key dates in the Asian social calendar. It’s a chance for people from all ethnic backgrounds to come together and enjoy the community atmosphere created by this cultural showcase.

If you require any further information please write to us enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope to:

Leicester Belgrave Mela
c/o Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre
Rothley Street
Leicester
LE4 6LF