The Lord-Lieutenant’s Office was pleased to be represented by Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL at this year’s Dartford Mela, held on Sunday 28th June at the Open-Air Theatre in Central Park.
The Mela celebrated music, dance, food and traditions from the Indian sub-continent, while also reflecting the diversity of Dartford today. The event was supported by Arts Council England and produced by Cohesion Plus in partnership with the Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Avtar Sandhu MBE, and local volunteers.
A real strength of the day was the focus on local performers. Audiences enjoyed energetic bhangra from the Four by Four Kings of Bhangra, dance from the Dartford Nepalese Community Dance Group, music from Soptosur Music School, Bengali songs from Sadia Afrin Ripa and lively drumming from Pacha Pucha Drumming Group.
The programme also included Bengali pop star Nurjahan Shilpi, Bollywood vocalists Shama and Shahid, and headline performances from bhangra stars Angrej Ali and Shin DCS, who helped bring the event to a lively close.
The Lord-Lieutenant’s Office welcomed the opportunity to support an event that brought people together and celebrated the many cultures that make up Dartford’s community life.
Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL said:
“Dartford Mela was a joyful celebration of culture, community and local talent. It was great to see so many performers, volunteers and residents playing their part in making the day special. Events like this matter because they bring people together, help build understanding and show the strength of Dartford’s diverse communities.”
