The Boishakhi Mela in Tower Hamlets has been a longstanding feature around Brick Lane, Allen Gardens and Weavers field and the surrounding area around Banglatown coming alive in colour, music, rituals and flamboyance. Due to its massive popularity, and resounding success in 2012, we anticipate that year on year the number of visitors attending the Mela will continue to break all previous records.
As one of London’s two premier street celebrations (second only to the Notting Hill Carnival), the Boishakhi Mela will continue to enhance community relationships, increase skill levels for young people, improve the area’s identity and ensure that audiences, participants and supporters have an excellent time out in London’s fantastic East End. In 2013, the Boishakhi Mela comes to Victoria Park which draws in more than 275,000 visitors a year to enjoy festivals and events which attract international superstars and boasts of a year round community programme. What better way to do that than to host the Mela in what is now officially crowned as the nation’s favourite park in the 2012 prestigious People’s Choice Award and renowned for hosting large scale events and performances? The move to a new venue in Victoria Park is an exciting prospect. Due to the cosmopolitan appeal of Victoria Park, we are more likely to attract a wider section of the community to the Boishakhi Mela. This will enable a mix of visitors who are local, from across the UK and Europe to enjoy and sample a different type of music. The blend of multicultural performers and activities will ensure integration of people of different ages and ethnicities to come together and improve community cohesion through culture and celebration. From 2013 onwards, the Boishakhi Mela will herald a more expansive delivery going into the future years and to attract a potentially bigger and diverse crowd to ensure the biggest Bangladeshi New Year celebration outside of Bangladesh reaches a higher volume of people.
