Slough Mela Festival is comming back in 2009
SLOUGH’S biggest festival, which attracts 30,000 revellers, is back this summer.
Slough Mela, which was axed last year, will return to Upton Court Park on Sunday, July 19.
The colourful festival celebrates South Asian culture and will now be organised by East London Festival Ltd, which won the contract from Slough Borough Council last week.
Organiser Ray C, who hosted the Mela between 2000 to 2005, said: “We originally put the Slough Mela on the map and made it into a huge success. We have not been involved in it for the last three years and want to reassure everyone that we have the expertise to make this event a success once more. We have a task ahead of us but we put on big events though the year, and will bring the cream of the crop when it comes to entertainment, and make sure this is an unforgettable event.”
This year’s show will feature performances from celebrities from the Asian music industry, fun fair rides and hundreds of stalls selling food, jewellery and clothes.
There will also be a community stage where acts from the area will have a chance to perform.
The festival has been surrounded by controversy in the past few years. It was originally due to be organised by Slough-based firm Complete Party Services, which was awarded the three-year contract in 2007.
However, this contract ended after it cancelled the festival, which was due to take place on Sunday, July 20, 2007.
The council then invited event organisers to bid for the contract again.
A spokesperson for Slough Borough Council said: “We’re really pleased that the Slough Mela is going ahead and hope everyone will take the opportunity to go along and join in the fun.”
Source: Slough Observer



Comments (19)
hina
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Hi, i am the group manager of hussain brothers qawwali group. hussain brothers have been performing thier music in and out of uk from a very long time.i will really be greatfull if they get the chance to perform at your event,if you went more information about my group then please contact me by phone or email ,
thank you.
Ash
May 5th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Dear Colleague
Please let us know if you can involve National Award winner – The Diana Award
Performers of Bollywood, ScreenIdolz in the Mela project,
please see attached logo and details
They perform across a fusion of cultures and can provide workshops as well – The Only Accredited Centre offering the National Qualification in Dance leaders Award on the theme of Bollywood,
Please send us Programme details and times for performances
Kind regards
Ash
Tel 07966453322
Atif Hussain
May 31st, 2009 at 9:47 am
Hi there for the Slough mela 2009 could you tell me who’s coming to it please.
sultan
May 31st, 2009 at 9:09 pm
hi,
i wana book stall i need contect number for book stall
thnaks
sultan
Nis
June 12th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Hi, isit Possible You Could Provide Inforamtion About The Atrists Whom Are Going To Be Performing!?
Kind Regards .
Jagruti
June 15th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Hi, i work for a health clinic in which we help people to quit smoking. I would be grateful if you could email me few details of how i can book a stall at the mela.
Thank-you
nipaa
June 25th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
heyyaa i jus wana no whoz gonna be there at this mela wat singer and that coming ..xx let me no plz thnx ..zz mawah ..xxxx ly ..xxxx
SHAHBAZ HUSSAIN
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:28 pm
SLOUGH MELA HAS BEEN CANCELLED AGAIN!!!
MAJID
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
THATS LAME WHY IS IT CANCELLED AGAIN
DENNIS
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I HEARD IT WAS BECUASE OF THE CHALVEY BOYZ, APPRANTELY THEY THRETHEND TO CAUSE FIGHTS!!!!
MENTAL
July 6th, 2009 at 10:50 am
No it aint cuz of chalvey boys manz r bare dumb on ere itz bcuz of the maaveh of thames valley police dey want £31000 upfront for the show bcuz 3 years ago club asia dun d mela bt dint pay the maaveh till six months later so they want it in advance 4 weeks before the show so guys how duz it feel to be let down agen frm the police 1st of all they dont come when you call they take agez then wen they do come they ask you stupid questions and dont bother with doing anything about it neway das my 2 centz latah
PRIYA
July 7th, 2009 at 7:47 am
eya this is from rani giddha we are really famous as we perform at all the mela’s in uk and we would love to perform at this event aswell and want to perform in the fuure aswell as partners can you please contact my owner on 07947160328 wew ould br really delighted we also have won alot of awards in zee carnival etc we will make your event shine
Asiya
July 10th, 2009 at 11:38 am
IS THE SLOUGH MELA ON OR OFF?? I KEEP ON HEARING DIFFERENT THINGS, CAN SOMEONE CONFIRM THIS FOR ME PLZ.
aroooosa
July 17th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
SLOUGH MELA ON SUNDAY CANT LOOL
kaz
July 19th, 2009 at 5:32 am
SLOUGH MELA 2009 HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO POLICE PROBLEMS.
http://slough-mela.com/
kaz
July 19th, 2009 at 5:41 am
SLOUGH MELA 2009 HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO POLICE PROBLEMS.
Slough’s largest community event has been axed for the second year in a row with organisers accusing the police of making ‘unreasonable’ demands for providing security at the festival.
The company behind the Slough Mela has been told that this year’s music and culture bash can only go ahead on the condition that it pays Thames Valley Police £31,000 for policing the one-day event.
East London Festival (ELF) claims that TVP have demanded the payment four weeks in advance of the Mela and have imposed ‘very difficult’ licensing conditions with threats of prosecution if breached.
The Mela, which was expected to attract 15,000 people, was cancelled in 2006 due to a row over policing costs. It was axed again last year following disagreements between the previous organisers and the authorities.
Superintendent Chris Shead, commander for Slough, said: “It is disappointing to hear that the organiser has cancelled this year’s Slough Mela.
“When determining the resources needed to police the Slough Mela, Thames Valley Police’s only intention is to ensure the safety of the people who attend the event. The licensing conditions largely address the same issue.”
kaz
July 19th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
LIST OF UPCOMING MELAS
East London Mela
Sun 02 Aug 2009
Location: Barking Park, London
The East London Mela offers extensive activities targeting the whole family.
The Edinburgh Mela
Fri 07 – Sun 09 Aug 2009
Location: Pilrig Park
The Edinburgh Mela is an exciting celebration of the people, places and identities that reflect the diverse communities.
Cardiff Mela
Sun 09 Aug 2009
Location: Oval Basin, Roald Dahl Plass
The Mela showcases a wide diversity of cultures, music, dance, arts, fashion and food to name a few.
.London Mela
Sun 16 Aug 2009
Location: Gunnersbury Park, Acton
London Mela is a major free festival celebrating Asian arts, culture and creativity.
Newham Under the Stars
Fri 04 Sep 2009
Location: Central Park, Stratford, East London
The mela rocks back into Central Park this summer offering a heavenly cocktail of music for the masses.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/asiannetwork/events/melas/2009/
SANDYYY
July 25th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Helloo jus wanna ask how do you book a stall at east london melaa ?
ALI MOHAMMED TAJI SUFI QAWAL
September 30th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
HI,
ALI MOHAMMAD TAJI is one of world famous QAWWALI SINGERS in Sufi Mystic/folk and semi calssical songs of PAKISTAN.
ALI MOHAMMAD TAJI golden voice has swept audience into a trance with scintillating renderings of devotional ecstatic Sufi
mystical Poetry with his unique style,being the only vocalist who can sing QAWWALI / AND FOLK melodies in Urdu/ Hindi/ poorvi/ Panjabi/ and Sindhi language. ALI MOHAMMAD TAJI till now perfromed EUROPE/INDIA/UAE/ SOUTH AFRICA AND UK. His beaufiful uplifting music transcends all linguisitc boundaries.
THANKS
yours very trully
( AHSAN ALI TAJI )
resarch and media Manager,
http://WWW.QAWWALALIMOHAMMEDTAJI.COM
http://www.osa.co.uk/search.asp?search=Ali%20Mohammed%20Taji&cmbsearch=2
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