 2011-annual mela-day |
The 39th Annual Mela of the SKLPC (UK) took place on Sunday, 10th July 2011 at their 19 acres of grounds in Northolt. Over 3500 people attended the Mela and accommodated 1,000+ cars parked onsite on the day.
The Mela team was led by Shivlal Vekaria the Convenor and assisted by Shiv Khetani and Kailash Kerai. The organising of the Mela has been in progress since February, together with the help of nearly 400 stewards.
Amongst the invited guests were dignitaries Cllr. Ansuya Sodha – Labour West Hendon; Cllr. Harshadbhai B Patel – Conservative – Preston; Cllr. Krupesh Hirani – Labour Dudden Hill; Cllr. Manjibhai Kara – Harrow; Shri. Arjunlal Sharma – Vice Chairman of Sewa International; Mr Ahmed Abouzaid – Metropolitan Police; Warrant Officer Steve Mack from the Army; Lieutenant Commander Micky Norford from the Navy.
An opening ceremony was performed by the past Trustees of SKLPC (UK), Laljibhai Bhanderi, Rameshbhai Bhanderi, Haribhai Halai, amongst others for the annual Forward Together Magazine 2011 (now available online at www.sklpc.com ) followed by the opening ceremony of the cultural program by the family of Vascroft Contractors Limited who have kindly donated £2,500.
The morning session consisted of activities which included yoga for the young and old, games organised by the Shakha team from Woolwich. Inflatable bouncing castles were also organised for children of all ages. A cultural stage program followed the afternoon session when children performed amazingly beautiful traditional and cultural items.
Shiamak Dance Academy (choreographers of past IFFA awards) performed one of the biggest dance workshops wherein all the people who attended joined the dancing from the age of 4 – 75 years old, thoroughly enjoyed by one and all.
There were food stalls selling all kinds of mouth watering food – desi bhel, dabeli, chilli paneer, maru bhajias, Belgian waffles, fruit and juice stalls as well as various others stalls.
The Mela was well organised and a great success.
Kailash Kerai
First Asst.Secretary (SKLPC (UK)
Second Assistant Convenor (Annual Mela)
Annual Mela 2010 Report
 Photos of the events - click here The Annual Mela of Shree Kutchi Leval Patel Samaj (SKLPC) took place on Sunday, 18th July 2010 at their grounds in Northolt. SKLPC also celebrated the 50th anniversary of Gujarat as well as the Kutchi New Year, Ashadhi Beej. Many VIPs and dignitaries attended this Mela, to name a few – Mayor of Ealing, Cllr. Rajinder Mann, Mr Barry Gardner – MP Brent North, Mr Stephen Pound – MP Ealing North, Bharti Taylor – General Secretary of Hindu Forum of Britain, Mr Ashok Kumar from High Commission of India, Cllr Krupesh Hirani – Dudden Hill, Cllr. Asad Omar – Mayor of Harrow, Mr Bob Blackman – MP Harrow East, Deputy Mayor Cllr Lisa Rutter – Mayor of Barnet, Mr Tony McNulty – former MP Harrow East, Mr Jagdish Chander of Incredible India, Mr Muljibhai Pindolia – President of Hindu Council of Africa, amongst other VIP guests from Kenya and India. The morning started with sporting events including yoga and desi team games presented by the Shaka group from Woolwich. There was a ‘fun car driving’ track which was enjoyed by children of all ages. Children from the Masti Group performed various musical instruments on stage. Simultaneously, the Saturday School which is run under the banner of SKLPC had a Careers Choices Connections session wherein they had workshops on how to prepare CVs, personal statements, completing UCAS forms, interview techniques, gap year (travelling and volunteer work), etc. There were various food stalls selling falooda, milkshakes, frozen yogurt, bhel, samosas, dabeli, fresh fruit by Bansuri, Fusion, Meera Catering, Belgian waffles, ice cream as well as a variety of non food stalls, Hindu Experience, Kutch Geology, Lighterlife, traditional clothes, and many others. The afternoon started with the welcoming of our invited guests on stage before the launch of the Forward Together 2010 magazine which was sponsored by BurntOak Builders Merchants. The Forward Together magazine is distributed to each and every member of the SKLPC and is an on-line version is available on their website as SKLPC.COM. A donation on behalf of SKLPC was presented by Mr Arjan K Vekaria, President of SKLPC to the Ealing Mayor’s Charity and the Metropolitan Police Widows and Orphanage Fund. Thereafter, the cultural program was opened by the Centre Management Team of SKLPC. There followed various cultural items performed on stage by the affiliated organizations of SKLPC which was extremely popular and was enjoyed by all. Prizes were given to the best performance and best costume. The mela was organized by the sub committee of SKLPC, and a team of members who have been working on the success of this event since January 2010. There were over 200 volunteers on the day and who helped in organizing this event, which was a great success and enjoyed by one and all. Their Annual Mela next year is on 10 July 2011. For further information, please log on to SKLPC.COM Kailash Visram Kerai SKLPC Secretary Team & Assistant Annual Mela Convenor | Hot Links! |
