Leicester’s Peepul Centre is set to host an ‘Arts and Well-being Mela,’ designed to showcase ‘some of the best’ artistic talent in the city and beyond.
The centre, which sits on Orchardson Avenue is hosting the two-day event over the weekend of Saturday 13 and Sunday May 14.
Organisers have hailed it a ‘celebration of art, culture and crafts for the community’ adding that it will feature some of the very best South Asian artistic talent from Leicester and beyond.
Supported by Arts Council England, the weekend of activities opens with its ‘Arts and Culture Show’ on the Saturday from 7pm.
Artists to be featured on the night include renowned renowned Sarob player Dr Rajeeb Chakraborty, who will be flying in from India to perform.
Tabla artist, Pandit Sang Sahai will also be performing alongside Kathak Dancers Jaymini Sahai and Andreea Ghervan. Singer Priti Kaur and Ghazal artist Anil Bhanot will also be showcasing their skills.
He will be joined by a string of other talented musicians; Kirpal Singh Panesar, who will be performing on Tar Shehnai, Pandit Ramesh Chandra on Sitar and Ustad Kiranpal Singh on Santoor.
Following this, the Peepul Centre is hosting its free Peepul Arts and Wellbeing Mela on Sunday, May 14 from 11am to 6pm.
The Mela will see the building taken over with walk-about performers, South Asian Folk and Bollywood dance performances, giant puppets, live music, a fashion and food bazaar, family arts and crafts, free fitness taster sessions and a bouncy castle and children’s rides.
“The day promises to be a fun-filled, colourful celebration of art, culture and crafts for the community as well as hosting a range of health and wellbeing support services in partnership with the NHS to give the community easy access to free health checks and advice for their physical and mental wellbeing,” explained Nash Chhatralia, the event’s director.
“This is the first time the event is taking place. Actually we were meant to host it two years ago but unfortunately it got cancelled due to Covid,” he went on to reveal.
“As a result we’ve been able to make it bigger and better. I’m hoping that it’s going to be extremely beneficial to the community – a chance to revive South Asian culture and for people to accept support for their mental health – something which is needed more than ever following Covid.”
“I’m delighted to offer this weekend-long festival-style Mela to the South Asian communities of Leicester and the Midlands,” added Anil Bhanot OBE, Chairman of Peepul Centre.
“We have combined arts, culture and health and wellbeing into the activities to highlight that the Peepul Centre is not only and arts and cultural space, but a safe space for the communities we serve.
“We are offering the support and advice the South Asian community needs to have happier and healthier lives that is tailored to them, which includes communicating in their languages and accounting for cultural sensibilities.”
The Peepul Arts and Wellbeing Mela on Sunday, May 14 is free for all.
Tickets for the Arts and Culture Show on Saturday, May 13, 7pm, are £15, or £10 for concessions. More information can be found at www.peepultheatre.com
