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20 years of Mela: Belfast's multicultural festival that keeps on growing

Bernie AllenBBC News NI
Kevin Boyes / Mela Festival A woman dressed in what looks like traditional Indian dress dances, while a white man, dressed in formal band uniform, blows a tune on the bagpipes. Kevin Boyes / Mela Festival
Mela Festival is an opportunity for people from different cultures to mix, learn, and enjoy themselves

Belfast's Botanic Gardens were awash with even more colour than usual on Sunday, as crowds gathered to celebrate Mela Day - the final day of an annual celebration of multiculturalism that has been running in the city for twenty years.

Established by Nisha Tandon in 2006, the week-long Mela Festival involves everything from dance to music and food to art.

The common thread that ties it all together, however, is to be found in the festival's name: Mela, which means 'uniting'.

Tandon said the past twenty years have been a great journey of helping people learn about each other's cultures.

"There are quite a lot of international artists here today, and there is a buzz from the artists and the food."

Nisha wears a purple kurta and has black hair. She is wearing glasses and stands in front of a botanical garden.
Nisha Tandon is chief executive of ArtsEkta, which is the group behind the Belfast Mela festival

She explained that this year's festival was the first that Northern Ireland's Tunisian community has taken part in, which illustrates Mela's popularity.

"Over the last twenty years the festival has grown, and we are hoping to continue with that growth."

Tandon called the 20th anniversary "an extraordinary milestone" and said she felt "incredibly proud and grateful".

"Mela has grown into a much-loved celebration for Belfast and beyond.

"This 20th anniversary festival has been a wonderful reminder of the power of culture to connect us, inspire us and create a sense of belonging."

After thanking everybody who has attended and participated over the years, she said: "Here's to the next chapter of Mela."

'Celebrate our diversity'

Róis-Máire has hair dyed reddish-purple. Around her neck is a green scarf. Behind her, botanical gardens.
Belfast Lord Mayor Róis-Máire Donnelly visited the Botanic Gardens on Sunday to check out the festivities

Among the many who called down to Botanic Gardens on Sunday was Belfast Lord Mayor Róis-Máire Donnelly.

"It's really important to come together as a city and celebrate our diversity and everything it offers," she told BBC News NI.

Kevin Boyes / Mela Festival Large cut-outs, tallers than the people holding them, read 'MELA' in massive colourful, patterned letters.Kevin Boyes / Mela Festival
Some unusual and eye-catching art was on display at this year's Mela Festival

'Important to see different cultures'

Pinaki is a Bangladeshi man who wears dark glasses and has short, smooth black hair. He wears a white shirt. He wife has ginger hair, also wears glasses and has a baggy brown top on that covers her arms.
Pinaki Datta is a repeat visitor at Belfast Mela

The 'world stage' at Mela Day, located at Botanic Gardens, featured musical performances from traditions that spanned the globe.

Visitors saw a panoply instruments, dress and art from across the continents.

Pinaki Datta is originally from Bangladesh and now lives in Newry with his wife Patricia.

"This is my third time coming to Mela, it's important to see different cultures."

Kevin Boyes / Mela Festival A person dress in extravagant ceremonial-style dress, with lots rich colours like gold and red. Kevin Boyes / Mela Festival
Different communities came together for this year's Mela Day in Botanic Gardens, Belfast

Organisers said Mela Day 2026 saw hundreds of artists, performers and community participants from across Northern Ireland and around the world take part.

They said "a spectacular programme of global music, vibrant dance, cultural performances, food, theatre, art and family activities" brought the 20th Belfast Mela Festival "to a colourful close".

"The 20th Belfast Mela Festival has once again celebrated the richness of Belfast's cultural communities, bringing people together through shared experiences and showcasing the very best of global culture."