A DASH of spice was added to Poole on Saturday as a celebration of Indian culture was enjoyed by hundreds.
The 2022 hosting of the annual Dorset Indian Mela event brought live music, traditional dancing, crafts, henna painting and, of course, a range of Indian cuisine.
Hundreds of families, friends and couples made their way to Poole Park on Saturday (August 20) for the all-day annual event.
Bournemouth man John Croft attended the event with his wife Sonya and took no time to tuck into the tasty offerings.
Sonya has a “very tasty” chicken biryani, while John tried the medu vada – a savoury snack made in a donut shape made with lentils, ginger, curry leaves and green chilies.
John told the Echo: “We like Indian culture and part of the attraction is the food. We love Indian food but have also really enjoyed the singing and dancing. We’ll definitely come back next year.”
The weather was equally praised, with next to no clouds in the sky over a sunny Poole Park.
Be it banana fritters, fried chicken or barbecued kebabs, there was something for everyone to enjoy at the festival celebrating all things India.
Indian-born Poole resident Shaurya came to the event with his son and said: “It’s great to see many people enjoying our culture, and it means it doesn’t just have to be ours – it can be everyone’s.”
A mela, or Indian fair, is used in the Indian subcontinent for all sizes of gatherings and can be religious, commercial, cultural or sport-related.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel