Baishkhai Mela in May in London
Mela is on Sunday. Quick rundown on what to expect at the Baishakhi mela in London this year.
Those of you who don’t know, the main mela is in three places. Bricklane, Weavers Field and Alan Garden. All in the same vicinity.This is the outside bit where popular music, Baul songs, etc are performed. There is a food festival this year along with rides, individual food stalls, various other stalls. My suggestion would be to enjoy the outside mela in the early afternoon ( 12-4) and then join the intellectual part at the BOI-LIT organized by the Bishsho Shahitto Kendro. Boi-lit starts at 2 but really gathers momentum from 4.30 ish. You will enjoy the mela outside a lot more if you come in a bigger group with friends. Those who come at the Boi Lit first can take off and enjoy the mela outside late afternoon from 4-6 ish.
Boi Lit will be at the Brady Centre at the Hanbury street (same vicinity again) . I will be in a panel with Abdullah Abu Sayeed sir from 4.30. So I suggest you all try to be there by 4.30 :). Drishtipat will have a table at the Boilit festival where it will have the program flyer, photo montage and powerpoint presentation in the laptop. Also there should be a few of us at the mobile chat show which is really interesting. It starts at 2 PM. The whole thing will be videotaped and put online. So if you have a political statement to make to the world, it is time to make it there. I hope at least some of you come to this chat show known as talkeoke (play on the word kareoke ). After 6PM, Boilit will have the good performances which includes a band show as well. The main attraction will be a talk with Abdullah Abu Sayeed and lots of music — some traditional, some contemporary. There is also a humayun ahmed drama, if that is your thing. Also a group from Birmingham is coming to do folk song and they are very good. Expect to be there at least till 10 pm if you stay till the very end. Expect to do a lot of walking.
This is your chance to show off all your Bangali panjabis, fatuas and sharis that you have accumulated from past Dhaka visits. 
There were 80000 people last year. More on the main stage and mela is at http://www.baishakhimela.com