FIFE Ethnic Communities invite you to share in Fife’s first Mela & Cultural Carnival on Sunday, 26 September at the Glen Pavilion, Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline.
From 12.00 noon until 8.00pm the Pavilion and Park will feature the sights, sounds and smells of a diverse and varied festival. With exotic food and international fashion, multicultural musicians and dancers, children’s activities and arts and crafts, this event is catering for all tastes.
Councillor Brian Goodall, strategic chair of Fife Council’s Housing & Communities Committee is opening the Festival, said: “Celebrating Fife 2010 is continuing successfully into the latter part of the year showcasing Fife’s unique cultural and historic identity.
“2010 has been chosen specifically to launch the Fife Mela and Cultural Carnival and the Council’s investment recognises it as a key event in the calendar. The Mela illustrates the spirit of our Year of Culture and highlights the unique visitor experience which Fife offers all year round.
“The Fife Constabulary Band will get the afternoon off to a rousing start and one of the festival’s main speaker’s will be Norma Graham, Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary who, in partnership with Fife Council, Scottish National Heritage, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust and NHS Fife, are amongst the many organisations supporting the event.
“‘Mela’ means gathering in many Asian languages and it is an apt description for what is taking place in Pittencrief Park. Three marquees will play host to international cuisine, children’s activities and a quiet haven featuring story telling and poetry.
“The food marquee should prove popular with the sale of local and ethnic food, the children’s marquee is providing a variety of activities including Polish arts and crafts, Chinese and Arabic calligraphy, henna tattoos, African drumming workshops and Nepalese basket weaving. The Children’s marquee and activities are funded by the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust.”
Music and dance performances in the Glen Pavilion are hosted by DJ’s Desi Fusion with the line up so far including:
• Street dancers – the Spin Fly B-Boys
• Classical Indian singing and dancing duo – Bani and Indrani
• Twisted Tails and Shimmer
• Lyrikool Lipz
• Mauritian folk singers
• Chinese cultural dancers
• Bhangra dancers
Naeem Khalid, FRAE Fife co-ordinator, believes the time is right for Fife to hold its own Mela, and said: “There has been a gap in this area in previous years and we have seen the popularity of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Melas grow and grow.
“Fife is home to a rich and diverse population and this should be celebrated. Our festival is a Mela and Cultural Carnival open to all our communities and offering, we hope, a united experience. We anticipate building on this year’s gathering to make it an annual event.”
Progress on the line-up at the Mela, who’s taking part, who’s who and what’s what can all be followed on facebook. To see this event’s wall, visit http://www.facebook.com and search for Fife Mela & Cultural Carnival.
For further information, please contact Daksha Patel on 01592 204 005.
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Contact: Frances Chisholm
Phone: 08451 555 555 Ext 44 26 89
Email: frances.chisholm@fife.gov.uk
Website: http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/2010
