AFTER years of performing at the Glasgow Mela, Diljeet Bhachu and Sodhi Deerhe are moving from the stage to behind the scenes at the spectacular summer event.

For the first time, the festival is being programmed and curated by the Scottish-Asian Creative Artists Network and members Diljeet and Sodhi are delighted to take on the reins as producers.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us, and a big responsibility,” smiles Diljeet, who is from Rutherglen.

“It’s such a well-loved event. Growing up in Glasgow, it was always a big thing for me, this one day in the year when the whole Scottish Asian community comes together.

“Sodhi was at the very first one, back in 1990, when it was staged as part of the European City of Culture so he is really excited about the opportunity to programme this year’s event.”

She adds: “It’s been a real whirlwind, and a bit strange for us both, as we are more used to performing on the stage instead of working behind it.

“But what a fantastic opportunity for us, to be able to shape the event, to push the boundaries a little and bring something new and different and fresh.

“We are so proud and happy to be involved.”

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Coming from the Sanskrit word meaning “to meet”, the Mela is now a highlight of the city’s cultural calendar.

In its early days, it was an indoor celebration at the then newly opened Tramway. Now the Mela is a huge, glorious party in Kelvingrove Park, attracting tens of thousands of people – last year, 45,000 visitors came to join in the fun – from all over the world.

This year’s event takes place on Sunday (June 23) and for 2019, Diljeet and Sodhi, who is from the west end, have developed a theme focussed around South Indian language and songs, exploring the Scottish-Asian and British-Asian experience.

“As artists – I play the flute and Sodhi is a leading figure in tabla education and performance – we are very aware of the grass-roots Asian arts scene in Glasgow and we wanted to look at how we could bring more of that into the Mela.”

Among the artists performing are UK Bhangra veteran Sukshinder Shinda and pioneering singer-songwriter and composer Deepa Nair Rasiya, plus Bhéara, a group which combines Gaelic culture and song with Indian mythology and dance.

Newcomers include Glasgow Sitare, a collective of local South Asian women brought together through song, and Scotland’s first Sufi collective, Sufi Qawal.

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The event has an artist-in-residence for the first time, too, and alongside music and dance, the programme will include comedy and spoken word.

“I’m really excited about everything we have going on this year, it will be an amazing event,” adds Diljeet. “It’s for all ages and always have been – I remember going as a child, watching the performances, having a look around the stalls and enjoying some food – it’s a great day out.”

The focus on south Asian culture reflects a shift in the city itself, explains Diljeet, whose parents came to Scotland from India, her father to Dundee at the age of 10, more than 50 years ago, and her mother to London in her twenties.

“There is much diversity within Asian culture – traditionally the focus has been Punjabi or north Indian-centric, for all kinds of reasons, but the Asian population has changed and we wanted the Mela to reflect that,” she says.

“What it means to be Asian for my generation, who have lived in Scotland all their lives, is vastly different from the experiences of our parents or grandparents who were born elsewhere and came here as adults.

“On the whole, life in Glasgow is certainly more diverse – when I look around me, I know the world is vastly different from the one I grew up in during the 90s.”

She adds: “It’s that diversity that we want to take forward in our vision for the Mela.”

Councillor David McDonald, depute leader of Glasgow City Council and chairman of Glasgow Life says the Glasgow Mela is an “occasion like no other.”

He adds: “The Glasgow Mela celebrates the diversity and breadth of our shared heritage.

“I am looking forward to an outstanding day of performances. As a UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow will play host to a thrilling sequence of festivals and gigs this summer for all to enjoy.”

The Glasgow Mela starts at noon on Sunday and runs until 8pm. Admission is free.

For more information on the programme, visit www.glasgowmela.com