The cultures of the world will come together in colourful, noisy, fun-filled collaboration and celebration in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens on Sunday 30 August, when the city hosts the ninth Belfast Mela.

More than 30,000 people are expected to attend the annual extravaganza, stepping into a freshly created world of diversity where the sights, sounds, smells and cuisine from around the globe come to life for one amazing day.

Tibetan tradition, Bulgarian dance, Andalucian flamenco, African drumming, Afro-Caribbean funk and reggae, Punjabi folk, Chinese lion dancing, Irish trad; a garden of flowers, magically come to life; an international souk and Little Bollywood for the tiny tots: there’s a whole world of entertainment for the whole family.

Presenting that wealth of nations is ArtsEkta, Northern Ireland’s multi-award winning ethnic arts organisation. Launching the 2015 programme, ArtsEkta Director Nisha Tandon OBE, spoke of the importance of the venture, not only as a highlight of Northern Ireland’s entertainments calendar, but also as a symbol of the city’s growing confidence as a diverse and culturally-aware destination.

“Communities across the city and beyond are the lifeblood of the Mela and we are proud to provide this exciting, exuberant showcase for such a vast range of ethnic groups. Our minority ethnic communities look to Mela as a platform to express their cultural identity, experiment creatively and introduce others to their inner world.”

Belfast Mela will run in Botanic Gardens, Belfast from 12noon – 6pm on Sunday 30 August 2015. Full programme details are available on line. On the day tickets are £5 for adults, £4 for concessions or £15 for families. Avoid queues and secure discounts by booking online at www.belfastmela.oHYPERLINK "http://www.belfastmela.org.uk"rg.uk, with tickets priced at £4 for adults, £3 for concessions and £12 for families. A booking fee of £1 per web transaction applies. Admission is subject to site capacity.

Pictured (Left to Right) is Nora Dowds - Tara Lodge, Thomas McCabe (Nathan Thanki) – Radical opponent of  the Belfast Slaveship Company, Pauline McCullough - Tara Lodge, Arthur Magee - Experience Belfast Stephanie Keown - Musician, Raymond O’Regan, Author and Historian and Pedro Donald - The Sunflower, Union Street