When
Sunday 19th - Sunday 20th May 2012
Where
Brick Lane and Weavers Fields
The Boishakhi Mela Festival is taking place once again for 2012, bringing together Bengali arts, music and culture to Brick Lane in a vibrant street event.
Festive celebrations at Boishakhi Mela
The Boishakhi Mela festival is one of the biggest Bengali New Year celebrations in the world, celebrating the culmination of Bengali New Year. Taking place once again in 2012, Boishakhi Mela is expected to attract thousands of visitors, transforming the area around Brick Lane into one huge, festive party. Visitors can enjoy food, dance, street performance, a parade, activities for kids and more in a lively free event.
New for 2012
For 2012, the Baishaki Mela has been rebranded as the Boishakhi Mela, and aims to make the festival even more representative and relevant to the modern Bangladeshi community. Events are now spread across the whole weekend, with a trade fair and expo on the Saturday and a huge family festival on the Sunday.
Bengali culture in London
The festival includes a spectacular line up of attractions with musicians, dancers, colourful costumes and more throughout Sunday. Proceedings on the second day start with a full street parade along Brick Lane, and continue two stages set up in Weavers Fields which are showcasing both traditional Bangladeshi acts as well as up and coming local talent. Crowds can expect Bangladeshi culture in full, with everything from traditional folk to Bengali rock and Bhangra and international acclaimed musicians thrown into the mix.
Bengali food festival
This year’s Boishakhi Mela festival includes a wealth of food stalls selling delicious curry dishes and Bengali cuisine. Visitors can sample a taste of Bengali food direct from Brick Lane’s Bangla town and enjoy everything from curry to kulfi at the open air market.
Live music
Weavers Fields is hosting a number of performances from high profile artists from both Bangladesh and the UK during the Boishakhi Mela festival, while the Grand Procession along Brick Lane also features sculptures, dancers and other entertainers. Visitors can sample authentic Bangladeshi culture and contemporary acts in an upbeat, colourful atmosphere, while kids can enjoy all the funfair rides and stalls in Weavers Fields during the day, too.
The Boishakhi Mela festival takes place at Brick Lane and Weavers Field, with a trade expo on Saturday 19th May and the full family festival on Sunday 20th May 2012. The event is free to attend.