Melā
Mela (
In recent times "mela" also popularly refers to shows and exhibitions. It can be theme-based, promoting a particular culture, art or skill. Generally at "melas" people can find eateries, entertainment activities, shops and games.
The
Notable Melas in South Asia
India
- Gangasagar Mela at Sagar Island
- Gita Mahotsav
- Haridwar Kumbh Mela
- Jhiri Mela[4]
- Kapal Mochan Mela, Haryana [5][6]
- Kumbh Mela
- Muktsar
- Minjar Mela[7]
- Perfect Health Mela
- Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha
- Prayagraj Kumbh Mela
- Pushkar Fair
- Pushkaram – the river festivals of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- Ratha-YatraMela
- Sonepur Cattle Fair
- Shaheedi Jor Mela
- Ujjain Simhastha
Bangladesh
Pakistan
Usage outside South Asia
In modern usage outside
Since the 1980s an increasing number of melas have regularly been held in larger towns outside south Asia, especially in the UK and North America. The larger melas tend to be those with larger ethnic minority populations, but many melas are held in communities with small South Asian diasporas. Community ownership of these melas is important to the South Asian communities, who see them as opportunities to share their cultural heritage with the mainstream. They are opportunities for bridge-building and community-building and can perform a strong socially cohesive function.
More successful outside-of-Asia melas tend to have a strongly diversified funding base with private/public/third sector collaboration. Public money is often spent on the melas. This reflects the mela organisers' and public authorities' joint conviction that, as in the sub-continent, melas are for everyone.
Notable Melas outside the Asian subcontinent
- Milan The Hague (The Netherlands)
- Oslo Mela Festival (Norway)
- Belfast Mela (UK)
- Birmingham Mela (UK)
- Boishakhi Mela (UK)
- Bradford Mela (UK)
- Cardiff Mela (UK)
- Edinburgh Mela (UK)
- Glasgow Mela (UK)
- London Mela (UK)
- Manchester Mega Mela (UK)
- Middlesbrough Mela (UK)
- Newcastle Mela (UK)
- Nottingham Mela (UK)
- Preston Mela (UK)
- Southampton Mela (UK)
- Brooklyn Mela, Coney Island Ave, New York (US)
- Punjabi Mela, Centreville, VA (US)
See also
References
- ^ "Millions bathe at Hindu festival". BBC News, January 3, 2007.
- ^ "Kumbh Mela pictured from space - probably the largest human gathering in history", BBC News, January 26, 2001.
- ^ Karoki Lewis (March 22, 2008). "Kumbh Mela: the largest pilgrimage - Pictures: Kumbh Mela". The Times.
- ^ "Jhiri Mela". District Administration Jammu. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ "Lakhs throng Kapal Mochan Mela". The Hindu. November 10, 2011. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
- ^ "Tight security for holy dip during Kapal Mochan Mela". Zee News. November 16, 2013. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
- ^ "Minjar Mela". NICNET. Retrieved 30 July 2022.