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Thousands descend on the Botanic Gardens for the Belfast Mela

A multi-cultured parade kicked off the festivities, with Dhol drummers and Bollywood dancers making their way through Botanic Gardens. Picture by Ann McManus
A multi-cultured parade kicked off the festivities, with Dhol drummers and Bollywood dancers making their way through Botanic Gardens. Picture by Ann McManus A multi-cultured parade kicked off the festivities, with Dhol drummers and Bollywood dancers making their way through Botanic Gardens. Picture by Ann McManus

THOUSANDS of revellers descended upon Botanic Gardens yesterday for the annual Belfast Mela, a celebration of global culture, music and arts.

A multi-cultured parade kicked off the festivities, with Dhol drummers and Bollywood dancers led by Belfast’s lord mayor Nuala McAllister making their way through the gardens.

For those hoping to explore the finest cuisine from around the globe, the World Food Market had something for everyone, from Polish sausages and Japanese sushi, to Spanish paella and Chinese noodles.

The Live Cookery Theatre saw chefs and food producers come together with performing artists to share their recipes and describe their culinary inspirations and influences.

Music was provided by an eclectic range of artists, including Los Dramaticos, a duo hailing from Northern Ireland and Chile who dabble in everything from French Chanson to Argentinian Tango and Ugandan Afropop.

The Dhol Foundation, led by the UK's most celebrated player of the Punjabi dhol drum, Johnny Kalsi, also provided a steady beat to the festivities.

Young and old were amazed by the Flying Dragon dancers, a colourful troupe of performers who paraded to the sounds of drums and gongs as the skilled Gung Fu martial artists displayed their physical strength and expertise in weaponry.

Mela executive director Nisha Tandon said there was something for everyone at yesterday’s event.

"We have a fantastic Polish village this year which is very new, also a gathering place where people can come and meet each other and integrate and learn about other cultures," she said.

"We have health and well-being events, our Bollywood tent for little children and our fantasy forest where there will be lots of music, dance and storytelling and creatures from all over the world."