The free event – on Saturday 15 October 2016 – will be held at Albert Square in Manchester.
The action packed day featuring food, live music, crafts and dance starts at 2pm and will close with a bang at 9pm as fireworks and special effects light up Albert Square in an exciting finale show.
Organised by the Indian Association Manchester, the Mela event features an impressive programme of live entertainment on two stages in Albert Square with performances by the Foundation for Indian Performing Arts (FIPA), Rainbow Raagas, Bollywood Brass Band and Four by Four Bhangra dancers and ‘SPARK’ from Worldbeaters Music and much more.
The event offers visitors the chance to buy everything from authentic Indian food, clothes and jewellery to crafts and accessories for Diwali as well as offering arts and crafts workshops for children and adults.
At dusk, around 7.00pm, a lantern procession will set off from Manchester Central Library where around 200 children from Greater Manchester schools will take part with lanterns made at pre-event workshops. Larger than life characters including a deer, a pair of flamingo bird lanterns along with fantastic Indian music will accompany the procession.
A lantern workshop on 15 October from 2pm to 4pm at Manchester Central Library will offer an opportunity to anyone wishing to make their own lantern and take part in the procession.
The finale performance will follow the lantern procession.The finale features a performance by ‘SPARK’ (illuminated drummers) which will be a first performance by SPARK in Manchester and at any Diwali event.
The finale – produced and presented by the renowned creative arts and pyrotechnics company Walk the Plank – boasts live music, dynamic sound and lighting, pyrotechnics and special effects.
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Manchester City Council’s executive member for culture and leisure said: This promises to be a colourful, exciting and free event – in Manchester city centre – for all to enjoy regardless of age, culture or background. There is always a fantastic atmosphere at this event as different communities from across the city celebrate together.”
