Sangam Festival: A Celebration of South Asian Heritage will return to Kirklees, West Yorkshire this summer after securing funding from the Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants and Kirklees Council.
The festival will launch with the return of the popular Sangam Mela from 12pm-7pm on Sunday, 9 July at Greenhead Park, Huddersfield.
It is part of Kirklees Council’s ‘Greenhead Gathering’ weekend and the Kirklees Year of Music 2023.
The Mela, which will feature top music acts, food stalls and family entertainment, attracted an audience of around 6,700 people in 2022.
This will be followed by a diverse programme of venue-based, outdoor and digital activities celebrating South Asian heritage, arts and culture, taking place during South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM): 18 July – 17 August 2023.
A comprehensive schools programme will also engage young people in activities relating to South Asian heritage.
Festival Director and CEO of Communities Together and Radio Sangam, Qaisar Mahmood said:
“In two short years, Sangam Festival has established an enviable reputation for promoting South Asian heritage, culture and entertainment in Yorkshire, as well as bringing much-needed investment into Kirklees, providing vital new commissions for local freelance practitioners and promoting community cohesion. We’re excited to be back for a third year.”
Cllr Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees said:
“Kirklees Council is delighted to see the return of Sangam Festival, starting with the Mela on 9 July – part of a weekend of music also featuring Huddersfield Carnival as part of this year’s Kirklees Year of Music.
The year is all about bringing the diverse communities of Kirklees together through music, and Sangam Festival will undoubtedly achieve that, with a series of cultural events for all to enjoy.”
Any local organisations who would like to have their planned SAHM activities included in the Festival should contact Festival Manager Michelle Hodgson at: michelle@sangamfestival.co.uk
Anyone interested in sponsoring an event or joining the Festival volunteer team should contact Qaisar Mahmood at: info@sangamfestival.co.uk or call 01484 549947.
For more information about the Festival visit: https://sangamfestival.co.uk
