Edinburgh International Communities

As well as the large international student population, this international destination attracts worldwide visitors and businesses. The city region hosts a variety of multicultural events – especially during the festivals. And this is most evident in the hugely popular annual ‘Edinburgh Mela' - Scotland’s biggest intercultural event.

The Edinburgh Mela is not an attempt to recreate a South Asian mela. Instead, it brings together many south Asian traditions with other cultures into a modern Scottish environment. It all started in 1995 when people who had moved here from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China and Africa decided to create a colourful festival to celebrate the area’s successful multicultural community.

Colourful costumes... worldwide arts and crafts... a bazaar steaming with aromas of the East... the Mela is all about mingling with people from Scotland and abroad and experiencing the different cultures.