Melā

This led to their export around the world by South Asian diaspora communities wishing to bring something of that tradition to their new countries.

After the Notting Hill Carnival, it is the second-largest street festival in the United Kingdom, attracting over 80,000 visitors from across the country.

Many melas are wider intercultural (though mainly Asian) festivals incorporating music, dance, food and other aspects of mainstream culture.

Since the 1980s an increasing number of melas have regularly been held in larger towns outside south Asia, especially in the UK and North America.

More successful outside-of-Asia melas tend to have a strongly diversified funding base with private/public/third sector collaboration.