The Mega Mela Manchester returns this weekend and promises to be a smash hit with visitors.

This year's mela will take place on Saturday August 25 and Sunday August 2 at Platt Fields Park.

Festivities were postponed earlier in the year due to unrelenting rain but spirits have not been dampened and the Mega Mela is set to bring much needed sunshine to the park over the weekend.

The free festival, supported by Manchester City Council, will feature music, dance and traditional arts and crafts such as henna bringing the sights, sounds and aromas of South Asia to Manchester.

Some of the biggest names on the UK and international Asian entertainment scene will perform on both days on a main stage hosted by the BBC Asian network.

The festival will also feature authentic food from the region, a funfair, stalls selling traditional and contemporary clothing, performances of street theatre as well as contests in which teams will compete in the sport of Kabaddi.

The family friendly event has become a key date on Manchester’s cultural calendar, attracting more than 60,000 visitors in previous years.

The Mela is being organised by representatives of communities from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Councillor Rosa Battle, Manchester City Council executive member for culture and leisure said, "The Mela is a fantastic celebration of the cultural diversity that exists here in Manchester and the lively free event is enjoyed by tens of thousands of people every year.

"The festival is incredibly popular and after the setback earlier this year, due to atrocious weather conditions, it’s good news the Mela is still taking place."

Khairul Alam, Mela Management Committee, "We’re proud to once again bring the largest celebration of South Asian arts and culture to Manchester and look forward to welcoming people from all cultures and religions to our event."