The Sangam Mela, a celebration of South Asian heritage, returns to Greenhead Park in Huddersfield on Sunday July 9 – and it’s free to attend.
A day after the Caribbean-inspired Huddersfield Carnival, the ‘Greenhead Gathering’ weekend switches to the mela, which will feature top music acts, food stalls, fashions and family entertainment.
The popular event attracted just short of 7,000 people in 2022.
The fun starts at 12noon and runs until 7pm.
The mela is part of the wider Sangam Festival which has received funding from Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants and Kirklees Council.
The mela will be followed by a diverse programme of venue-based, outdoor and digital activities celebrating South Asian heritage, arts and culture, taking place during South Asian Heritage Month, July 18 to August 17. A comprehensive Schools Programme will also engage young people in activities relating to South Asian heritage.
Festival director and CEO of Communities Together and Radio Sangam, Qaisar Mahmood, said: “In two short years, Sangam Festival has established an enviable reputation for promoting South Asian heritage, culture and entertainment in Yorkshire.
“It has also brought much-needed investment into Kirklees, providing vital new commissions for local freelance practitioners and promoting community cohesion. We’re excited to be back for a third year.”
Clr Naheed Mather, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet member for culture, said: “Kirklees Council is delighted to see the return of Sangam Festival, starting with the mela, part of a weekend of music also featuring Huddersfield Carnival as part of this year’s Kirklees Year of Music.
“The year is all about bringing the diverse communities of Kirklees together through music, and Sangam Festival will undoubtedly achieve that, with a series of cultural events for all to enjoy.”
For more information about the festival visit https://sangamfestival.co.uk/
