24 June 2024

40,000 people attend the Glasgow Mela at Kelvingrove Park

A group of dancers in colourful outfits performing on the main stage at the Glasgow Mela.

The 2024 Glasgow Mela attracted a crowd of 40,000, with people enjoying a jam-packed day of free music, dance, and arts.

Festivalgoers were treated to spectacular performances by incredible local, national, and international acts at Kelvingrove Park.

Among the line-up were award-winning Punjabi rapper Roach Killa, singer Abira Shah, Scottish DJs Gtown Desi, and Glasgow's own Rameet Sandhu.

The legendary Apache Indian headlined the festival, and Glasgow’s original bhangra rockers Bombay Talkie also reunited for a special performance.

People had the chance to try outstanding food from around the world and visit a range of market stalls.

The Kelvingrove Bandstand also hosted an author talk as part of The Summer Reading Challenge, workshops, and the first-ever Glasgow Mela Big Singalong with Glasgow Sitare.

On top of that, there were come-and-try sport sessions, including kabaddi, hockey, volleyball, and archery.

Mela means "gathering” in Sanskrit, and the festival is a South Asian celebration of Glasgow’s diverse communities. The event aims to promote local artists and their rich cultural heritage.

The first Mela was in 1990 as part of Glasgow’s celebrations as the European City of Culture.

The festival has since grown into a huge outdoor celebration which attracts thousands of visitors and brings together hundreds of performers and artists from around the world.