Edinburgh Mela Festival

Each year, Edinburgh is home to Scotland’s biggest intercultural festival: ‘Edinburgh Mela.’ Melas first came to Britain in the late eighties. In 1995 people from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and other traditions of the sub-continent established a mela in Edinburgh. Chinese, African and other groups were also involved.

The Edinburgh Mela is something unique and is not an attempt to merely recreate its south Asian counterpart. You are immediately aware of both Scottish and Asian cultures converging in a celebration of colourful costumes and performances. You are quickly immersed in the atmosphere of a bazaar with the food aromas of the east and traders selling clothes, fabrics, jewellery, crafts and much more. The Edinburgh Mela is a place to wander around and mix with people from all around the globe, all enjoying this spectacular event.