London's Mela: Celebrating Asian Culture

The London Mela attracts thousands of people each year. The outdoor festival is one of the biggest celebrations of Asian music and culture events outside the Indian subcontinent.
Here at London's Mela, up-and-coming musicians are showcasing their talent to a happy crowd.

But here at this community stage, one can find traditional Indian music and dance.

Choreographer Jay Kumar, got people on their feet, instructing the audience to change lightbulbs and wipe windows.

[Jay Kumar, Bollywood Dance Choreographer]:
"One of my sessions today is this part called "I love Bollywood", where I have been asked to do a big interactive dance workshop. And I talked them through a very simple Bollywood dance routine, and it was so much fun."

Bhangra music accompanies the dancing using the dhol drum, a northern Indian instrument. Young Pram has been playing the dhol since he was six.

[Sukhwant Singlandar, Dohl Playing Family]:
"We originally started when my dad came from India in 1965. Since then our whole family has been involved in Bhangra and now we are passing it onto our third generation."

Rani Jaago Giddha Group are specialists in Bhangra, Giddha, Jaago & Bollywood Dance. Priya has been dancing since she was thirteen.

[Priya Sahi, Jaggo Dance Group]:
"I think that instead of dancing in clubs and all that, we prefer that we should dance in our own tradition. So we, me and my mates get together and form a little dance and entertain the people, and make them happy and they love it as well."

Mela is sanskrit for gathering. So what do Londoners think of this get together?

[Regina, London Resident]:
"It's a very happy feeling and it's nice to get together and to know so many different nationalities come to see this London Mela".

Linoy Markram, NTD, London

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• NTD
• London
• Mela
• Asian culture
• Festival
• Music
• Dance

[ZenChat]

Love Indian culture...

Love Bollywood!

[HerSurmaEyes]

priya ur hot thing

[parvinder27]

priya beutiful..