Preparations Complete for 17th Nepali Mela, with 42 Organisations Set to Present Cultural Processions
London, All preparations have been completed for the 17th Nepali Mela, which will be held in the UK on Sunday, 30 August, according to the organiser, Tamu Dhee UK.
Tamu Dhee UK provided details of the preparations during a press conference held on Sunday at its own premises in Mytchett. As in previous years, the event will take place at Kempton Park Racecourse in collaboration with the Embassy of Nepal in London.
According to Mela Coordinator and Tamu Dhee UK Vice-President Kamal Kone Gurung, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will feature cultural processions, songs, music and dances showcasing the traditional arts, cultures, costumes, customs and lifestyles of Nepal’s diverse ethnic communities. Traditional performances, including Lakhe and Maruni dances, are expected to be among the main attractions.
The Mela is being organised under the slogan, “Our Culture, Our Identity, Our Pride.” A total of 42 UK-based Nepali organisations have confirmed their participation in the cultural procession, and the organisers said that more organisations may still join.
The prize money for the Ambassador’s Cup, awarded to the winner of the cultural procession and dance competition, has been increased to £1,500 this year. The first runner-up will receive £700, while the second runner-up will receive £500. The winning teams will also be presented with trophies and certificates.
The winner of the NRNA Cup will receive £500, an increase from last year’s prize of £300.
The Mela will feature 75 stalls offering Nepali food, clothing, handicrafts, commercial services and charity-related activities. The organisers said that the health camp will also be better organised and expanded compared with last year.
According to Coordinator Gurung, the event is expected to cost approximately £61,000 to organise, while projected income is around £64,000.
Admission has been set at £5 for adults, while children and senior citizens will be admitted free of charge. Car parking will cost £5, while coach or bus parking will cost £10. Parking facilities will be available for approximately 1,100 vehicles. Admission and parking fees may also be paid by card.
The formal opening ceremony will begin at 11:20 a.m. Nepal’s Acting Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Bipin Duwadi, will attend as the chief guest. Nepali and international diplomatic representatives are also expected to be present.
Tamu Dhee UK President Jum Kaji Gurung said that vehicle access points and parking capacity had been expanded this year, making the venue more convenient for visitors. He urged members of the media and the wider Nepali community in the UK to help promote the event and contribute to its success.
Recalling the strong participation of journalists during the Mela’s early years, President Gurung expressed concern over the decline in media attendance in recent years.
During the press conference, it was also announced that Tamu Dhee UK will organise a 100-kilometre walk and run on 11 and 12 September.
The press conference was conducted by Tamu Dhee UK General Secretary Dr Bishal Gurung. Senior Vice-President Parashu Gurung delivered the welcome address and appealed to journalists to support the event through publicity. Media Secretary SK Gurung welcomed the participating journalists and introduced them to the gathering.
During the second session held after the press conference, individuals who had contributed to various areas of Tamu Dhee UK, as well as social workers and artists visiting from Nepal, were honoured. The honours were presented by President Jum Kaji Gurung, Mothers’ Group President Kamala Devi Gurung and Vice-President Kamal Kone Gurung.
Those receiving special recognition included Aldershot councillor Uttar Bahadur Gurung; Punam Gurung, founding president of the Tamu Dhee UK Mothers’ Group and former president of NRNA UK; and former Tamu Dhee UK president Ram Chandra “Surje” Gurung.
The organisers described the Nepali Mela as the largest gathering of the Nepali community in the UK and said that approximately 12,000 people are expected to attend this year.
– Biswasdip TIGELA/Goma RANA
