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Features

Two girls running a stall at Eid Mela
Two girls running a stall

Hot hot hot at Eid Mela!

by Christine Mathers
On one of the hottest days of the summer, Millennium Point hosted Eid Mela 2006 - a massive celebration of South Asian culture. Did you go? Did you get snapped? Check through the photo gallery to find out!

The celebrations this year focussed on South Asian Culture - and there were plenty of things to celebrate. Tents with people cooking inside - chapattis, naan and atta, henna tattooing and artists live on stage - there was plenty to see and do.

Talima, Anita and Vikhima
Talima, Anita and Vikhima

I tried my hand at silk painting and even had a Mehndi done (a henna tattoo) and sat down with the ice cream sellers to have some curry. I definitely needed ice cream after the hot lamb karahi!

The festival moved to Millennium Point for the first time this year - but that didn't deter people turning up in their hundreds.

Christine's mehndi
Christine's mehndi

Talima, Anita and Vikhima said: "We're having a good day so far - we're just waiting for the acts to come on stage. We come every year, it used to be at Cannon Hill Park so now it's a different atmosphere. Last year we stayed all day so we'll see how it goes today.

"It needs to liven up a bit more - last year there was a really good vibe - we're waiting for the buzz this year - do you know when it's coming?!"

Carly from Birmingham said: "It's fantastic weather so it makes today an even nice day - it's a great day out for all the family. I'm going to get some curry now!"

Keeping Indian culture alive in Birmingham

Ranbir Kaur and her daughter
Ranbir Kaur and her daughter

Ranbir Kaur is a textile artist who moved to Great Barr from India 17 years ago. She talked me through how important it is to keep Indian culture alive in her adopted county: "I do embroidery and incorporate this with fabric and silk painting.

"Today I am showing people how to do silk painting - you outline a design on silk, then use silk paints - two or three colours to paint it. Using more colours makes a nice shade and variation in colour. You can paint on saris, blouses, silk scarves - anything.

A girl at her stall

"I'm enjoying today - it's really hot right now though! I work locally, nationally and internationally. I recently went to India to receive the Jewel of India which was for keeping my culture alive in this country.

"I enjoy my work - I do different activities so it never gets boring. I got to schools, hospitals and playgroups to show them my art. Since I came to this country, it's been my aim to keep my culture alive - in schools, museums, art galleries and in the community and textile art is such a lovely tool to be able to do that with."

Serious message

The National Blood Donor Van
The National Blood Donor Van

As well as enjoying a family day out, the Mela also held a serious message. The National Blood Service were in a prominent position to encourage people to sign up.

Kamnish Mistrey from the National Blood Service said: "People from ethnic minorities don't tend to donate blood. We've found that blood group B is more predominant in the ethnic minorities and that's one of the lowest groups we've got.

"We're here today to encourage them to. You never know when you might need a transfusion.

"We do a lot of work in the Asian community trying to dispel myths that are around. Although blood can be given to anyone regardless of their ethnicity - it's a closer match between people of the same ethnicity. So come and find out about it."

Diabetes awareness

Four girls at their stall

Several diabetes awareness groups were also on hand to educate people about this dangerous illness.

A spokesman from Pfizer said: "We're working with local doctors in the area and what we found was that diabetes is one of the major killers among the Asian community. What we're doing today is trying to raise the awareness among the community - checking people's glucose levels and showing what the risk factors are.

Three lads enjoying the day

Why is diabetes so common in the Asian community?

"Partly diet, lifestyle and there is also a hypothesised hereditary link. There's a particular gene present in the body which isn't as good as manufacturing insulin as in say, the White Caucasian population.

Diabetes UK are a patient organisation who offer appropriate advice - see the weblink on the right for details.

last updated: 16/07/06
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waseem akhtar
it was nice to meet other people

farah
these pics r nice

mya
eid mela wz wiked loved it spent all day at the concert maybe nxt tym i'll go see da rides cnt wait 4 nxt years 1 but hope it is in cannon hill prk hope evr1 had a good tym.!

elle
It would have been better if it wasn't so hot, or if the location was different. There was no shade or trees at Millenium Point so we had to leave early without being able to watch much of the performances.

billy
set in a diffrnt place, made it easier 4 outsiders 2 find, jus rite nxt 2 da city centre, but da mela itself... atmosphere woz brill, and da weather woz untouchable, wikid artistz, JINX KILLD DA SCENE!! "RespecT" *PEACE*OUT*

krazee
yo sik am on da site big up ma ppl nd eid mumbark 2 ya all pece out x

Aurangzeb Khan
eid mela was sick, had a laf, the rides were sick, the artists were wiked, but last years was alot better and this year it shud have been at canon hill park agen

Mr Khan
Great Mela, great location, great stalls, food, funfair and rides. Thanks to the organiser she did a great job!

Soniya
I managed to catch the last 2 hours of the mela as the location was absolutely difficult to find! Took us an hour to actually find the place! And the direction signs weren't exactly helpful! The athmosphere was phenominal apart from a few odd boys with their immature fights/beef and the performances were phenominal! I absolutely loved B21's performance! I think they sucessfully got the crowd Bhangraing..but i think Shezad Roy (the last act) got the crowd up in the air the most. Overall great acts and a good performance. Just an absolute shame regarding the location of the event.

Sarah Loat, BBC
To mullahOMAR, Eid is an Arabic word which means 'festival' or 'celebration'. For example, Eid meelad saaeed means 'Happy Birthday' This event is not connected to either Islamic festivals Eid ul-Fitr or Eid ul-Adha, which are of course at different times of the year, but are often shortened to just 'Eid'.

Shabana
I was very dissapointed with the mela this year. The location was wrong, its much better at cannon hill park... and they were to many rowdy ppl... Dont get me wrong the artists were brill and like evry yr asian network provide a great entertainment.

pinky
the mela was wicked! i had a great time with all me mates, just wish security is a little tighter next time. every year there is always a bunch of immature, attention seeking, good for nothing bunch who tend to spoil it for the rest. but over all a superb day out, they had great artists lined up, i was lucky enough to actually meet some, mutz looked yumm so ye...look forward to next years mela!

mullahOMAR
why is it called EID mela when its got nothing to do with eid?

saleena
eid mela was such a mash up performance they should be more of these things and thanks 4 all the fit manz

Raja
The eid mela was sick it was a nice hot day the music was sick.Apart from da fights it was wicked i hope every1 enjoyed it.

Adzee
the mela was absouloutly bomb! The artists that came were just sik! but da boys chucking bottles at the artists was just typical boys wanting to get some attention! How ever that didnt spoil it ccuz it was still bomb n i was dancin 4 hours man! didnt get time to check the rest outcuz the stage had me gripped.Went on a couple of rides they were sik aswel..over all ifink it was a wicked day n hope it happens agen !

OMA
THE MELA WAS JUST WICKED THE FOOD WAS AT ITS BEST AND THE MUSIC WAS SUBERB, THE ONLY THING THAT MESSED IT UP WAS IMATURE BOYS WHO STARTED TO THROW BOTTLES, FOOLS.

ali hussain
was very good, lots of stalls and a great time!!!!

faria
the eid mela was wicked, i enjoy myself with my family,the weather was just great and the muslic was live hope every1 had fun

Miss Annonymous
Thank you to all the origanisers, sponsors and performers -- it was a great event -- we really enjoyed!!!

naheem hussain
i got 2 say is tat te mela woz sick an some people done some nice dance but te worse tat sopiltz it is boyz starting to fight otherwise it woz fantastic

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