Parade marks Mela festival launch

The Mela was founded by members of the city's Asian community

The annual Mela arts festival has been launched in Edinburgh with a spectacular parade of stilt walkers and samba drummers.

This year's festival will celebrate the usual mix of dance, music, crafts, food and fashion from all over the world.

The programme also features some of the biggest names in the Asian bhangra and hip-hop music scenes.

The festival was opened in Pilrig Park, Leith, by Lord Provost George Grub. It will run until Sunday night.

The daytime programme has introduced some new elements for 2007 including poetry and literary readings, as well as theatre performances for all the family.

Budding artists will also have the chance to test their skills in the arts pavilion, as the Edinburgh Printmakers and The Ceramic Experience hold interactive workshops throughout the weekend.

Cultural diversity

For the first time in Edinburgh, the Mela Football Cup finals will also be played over the weekend.

The chairwoman of the Edinburgh Mela, Lesley Hinds, said she was looking forward to another successful festival.

She added: "The Mela's reputation continues to grow each year. This year's programme will suit all ages with the great range of performers and interactive arts and crafts on offer.

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a dry weekend, but even if it rains we have plans in place to deal with this."

Edinburgh Mela was founded in 1995 by members of the city's Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi communities.

One of its key objectives from the outset was to reflect and celebrate Scotland's cultural diversity, while retaining its roots in the South Asian communities.