Indian Summer Mela

Hosted by the Ipswich and Suffolk Indian Association in partnership with Ip-Art, the 8th Ipswich Mela certainly lived up to its name. Christchurch Park, thronged with families, had a festival atmosphere on Sunday 13 July with stalls selling spicy food, a funfair, licensed bar and fabulous music and dancing on the open air stage.

The masala dosa (pancakes) and chana dal vada (hot chilli rolls) made by Mrs Kochera and Mrs Joycutty come highly recommended. Follow them with chicken tikka from A Taste of India and you have the perfect Sunday lunch! The performances ranged from traditional to east-west fusion, with some stunning dances and excellent vocals from local singers Vijayendra and Sridevi Kalabandi. Compere Jeff Mirza kept the audience involved with anecdotes, jokes, cheers for women, cheers for men, cheers for the performers and for everything else! The biggest cheer of all, however, was for IPSWICH - a fine local pride!

Caroline Markham