This year's Dashehra and Diwali Mela celebrations will take place in Albert Square outside Manchester town hall.

The free event - on Saturday 20 October 2018 and features food, live music, crafts and dance starts at 2pm and will close at 9pm. 

Organised by the Indian Association Manchester, the Mela event features an impressive programme of live entertainment on two stages as well as street theatre in Albert Square with performances by the Global Grooves Carnival Company, Raijin Drummers, ‘Sacred Shapes’ by Orissi Ensemble, Bhangra music by Jassi Sidhu and Sahara, Bollywood music by Chirag and Shama, 4 x 4 Bhangra dancers, classical dance by artists from Annapurna Indian Dance Company, music by Desi District Brass and Drumming Band, Malayalee Drummers, Explosive Band Baja and much more. 

The event offers visitors the chance to buy everything from authentic Indian food, clothes and jewellery to crafts and accessories for Diwali as well as offering arts and crafts workshops for children and adults.

At dusk, around 7pm, a lantern procession will set off from Manchester Central Library where around 200 children from Greater Manchester schools will take part with lanterns made in pre-event workshops. Larger than life characters including a Golden Deer, Pritam the Peacock made by Jessica Rost and Walk the Plank, hoop performers, large star lanterns Elephant Stilt walkers, musicians and dancers from Global Grooves Carnival Company, fantastic Indian music by Malayalee drummers, Desi District Brass and Dhol band and Explosive Entertainment Band Baja.

Lantern workshops on 13 and 20 October from 11.00am to 1.30pm and 2pm to 4pm at Manchester Central Library will offer an opportunity to anyone wishing to make their own lantern and take part in the procession. 

The finale ‘Sacred Fires’ by the renowned outdoor arts experts Walk the Plank and will follow the lantern procession.

Dashehra Diwali Mela is supported by Manchester City Council, Arts Council England, Coop, SBI UK bank, Sunrise Radio and many other local organisations and businesses.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities or to book a stall visit the website www.dashehradiwali.co.uk or contact Mrs. Raj Dutta, telephone 07941 769 621, email diwalimela@yahoo.co.uk.