South Asian festival to become an annual event

Desi Fest Mela in Firth Park, Sheffield

A South Asian culture festival that was held for the first time in Sheffield this year will become a permanent annual event.

Desi Fest Sheffield Mela will return to the same venue, Firth Park, on the first Sunday in August 2025.

The organisers were inspired to bring the concept to Sheffield after a partner event in Luton recorded large attendance figures.

The mela would remain free to enter, with income generated from sponsorship and stall fees.

Organiser Faisal Sultani said: "It was great and the people really enjoyed it, from the children to grandparents and parents, everybody enjoyed the day.

"Events like this do take place regularly in different cities and towns, but not in Sheffield. People go to different cities to enjoy the mela, that's why they're so happy we brought the mela to Sheffield."

The mela featured music, dance and food

The mela coincided with South Asian Heritage Month, which is co-ordinated by the charity South Asian Heritage Trust.

The organising team hoped that the 2025 event could grow in size.

Mr Sultani added: "Sponsors have agreed to do the same with us again next year. We're going to apply for some public funding as well, which would allow us to to do better than this year, bigger than this year."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.