Around Town
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THE BEST EVENTS, TALKS AND SPORT
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* Have Telescope, Vllll Travel . . . Fancy seeing what the sky above the Andes or Italy looks like without having to leave bonnie Glasgow? Dr David Clarke, former director of the University of Glasgow’s observatory. takes you on a star-studded journey. Glasgow Science Centre: ScottishPower Planetarium, 50 Pacific Quay, Thu 25 Sep.
III Pedal for Scotland On your bike for a ride from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Come on, it’s only 50 miles. Honestly, some people are so lazy. Rosebum Park, Mun’ayfield, Edinburgh, Sun 28 Aug.
It Homes and Interior: Scotland 2005 You know you need to get rid of the woodchip but you’ve no idea what to replace it with. Well, you’ll find lots of inspiration for your nest at this interiors-fest, with talks, demonstrations. exhibitors and uber-trendy wares. SECC, Finnieston Quay, Glasgow. Sat 3 and Sun 4 Sep. II Forllee Tea Dance Tea dances are infinitely elegant and could well be the next big thing to hit Clubland. Beginners and old hands all welcome. You heard it here first, people. National Library of Scotland, 33 Salisbury Place, Thu 1 Sep.
David Pollock speaks to the organisers of the EDINBURGH MELA Scotland’s biggest intercultural celebration.
welcome fixture on Edinburgh‘s calendar of
events for the last ll years. 2005‘s Edinburgh
Mela is the first in which the organisers will be collaborating with the city‘s Out of the Blue arts organisation — owner of its own artists‘ space in Leith and the Bongo Club on Holyrood Road.
Festival coordinator, Out of the Blue‘s Dana McLeod explains: ‘We recently moved into the old army drill hall on Dalmeny Street (from Out of the Blue and the Bongo‘s old combined premises on New Street) and it‘s always been part of our agenda to get involved with as many arts projects as possible in the local area. so given that the Mela is just up the road from us in Pilrig Park it made sense for us to take it on when we were asked by the City of Edinburgh Council.‘
Last year‘s event was attended by over 40,000 people over the course of the weekend, and the Mela has taken inspiration from other such events across the UK during the course of its life. ‘lt was initiated by members of the South Asian communities in Edinburgh. which includes the Pakistani. Indian and Bangladeshi communities. ‘Mela‘ is a generic Sanskrit word which means ‘festival‘ or ‘celebration’ — imagine like our own Hogmanay has become. except there would traditionally be one in every town through the course of the year. There would be performances. food. family activities; just a big. open. all-inclusive festival. It‘s that concept that the people who started this Mela wanted to bring to Edinburgh. so they felt they had a part of their own culture in the city they called home.‘
As much as the Mela is a celebration for the South Asian residents of the city. it‘s also a welcome
recognition of rising multiculturalism in Scotland. ‘We believe the Mela this year is the most multicultural it‘s ever been.‘ says McLeod. ‘There are Turkish. African and Chinese groups getting involved now. and everything is really geared towards embracing the cultural diversity of the city.‘
Opening at midday on Saturday with a civic reception led by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh Lesley Hinds. a series of marquees in Pilrig Park will host events and activities for all ages. Headlining the entertainment will be successful Asian crossover pop artist Raghav. while UK bhangra pioneers Alaap and Dr Zeus will also be playing. Rajastani brass band Kawa — fresh from an appearance at this year‘s Glastonbury - will be performing with their own fakir (magician) onstage. and Bollywood dance troupe the Angel Dancers — as seen in Bend It Like Beck/tam and East 13 East — will also be there. Throughout the day there will be Eastern food stalls. a multicultural fashion show. and a large supervised activity area for kids.
Friday will see the site play host to a ladies-only evening in the WOO-capacity marquee. ‘Even the engineers. performers and security are women.‘ says McLeod. ‘Many women who‘ll be attending come from Muslim cultures. in which case they may feel uncomfortable performing or dancing in front of men. particularly those from other cultures. It‘s something that happens often in Muslim society. a real mothers and daughters‘ event.‘
Pilrig Park, Edinburgh, Sat 3 and Sun 4 Sep. www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk
25 Aug—8 Sep 2005 THE LIST 13