What's on in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Mela

Aug 2010 (annual)

Cost: Sat & Sun day pass £2; under 12s free;
Sakhian Ladies Night £6

Hours: Fri Cricket (Leith Links) 1pm; Sakhian Ladies' Night (Big Top): 6pm-9pm; Sat & Sun 12pm-9pm

Mela, from Sanskrit, is an Asian subcontinent community festival. Edinburgh's ethnic communities have followed suit since 1995 and celebrate Scottish diversity in Pilrig Park, off Leith Walk, with their own Edinburgh Mela.

Following Friday's Mela Cricket Cup and Sakhian Ladies' Night, the big top hosts a new musical spectacular New Asia from Singapore, Ghanaian drumming and belly dancing. On the outside stage Zimbabwean dance production Umkathi joins snake charming and Glasgow's very own twist of Bollywood, Desi Bravehearts.

Local Persian-cum-jazz band GOL, chart-toppers Mongha Singh, Bhangara brothers Tigerstyle and former Indian Idol runner-up Anshul Tomer also keep the weekend swinging. And no Edinburgh Mela could be complete without its own catwalk for the multicultural fashion show.

For full programme details, please visit the Edinburgh Mela website.

Pilrig Park