Birmingham: The Birmingham Mega Mela commenced with great enthusiasm at Ward End Park, marking the biggest and most exemplary two-day celebration. Thousands of people, including families from various nations and regions, attended from Birmingham and the surrounding areas. The event showcased Pakistani and Kashmiri culture and heritage, featuring sports, food, and the largest Robert Wilkinson Fun Fair for local community boys and girls. Trading and food stalls added to the vibrant atmosphere, while the highlight of the event was the highly anticipated Kabaddi match and the country’s largest horse tent pegging tournament competitions.
Prominent figures made special appearances at the event, including British Parliament members Tahir Ali, Barrister Ayoub Khan, Lord Mayor of Birmingham Councillor Kenwood, Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham Councillor Chaman Lal, Acting Consul General of Pakistan Kamran Ahmed Malik, Vice Consul Bakhtawar Mir, Councillor Majid Mahmood, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, Councillor Mariam Khan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Councillor Nicky Brennan, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety, and Equalities, former Lord Mayors Councillor Mehmood Hussain, Councillor Shafiq Shah, Councillor Muhammad Idrees, Councillor Diane Donaldson, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster, Chairman of the Municipality of Dadyal Azad Kashmir Haji Chaudhry Masood, Syed Nazir Hussain Shah, and others. They congratulated and paid rich tribute to the management of the Birmingham Mega Mela for providing excellent healthy entertainment activities and commendable services to the local community for ten consecutive years.
The Kabaddi match between the teams of India and Pakistan was the main attraction for fans, while the impressive horse tent pegging tournament competitions also highlighted the festival. The volleyball tournament saw intense competition, and prizes were awarded to those who excelled in Kabaddi, horse tent pegging, volleyball, football, and other sports. On this occasion, famous artists Roch Killa, Ruby Khan, Tariq Khan, Maz Ali, and others entertained the participants immensely with their performances.
Report by S M Irfan Tahir Photojournalist / Member National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Great Britain.
