With multicultural Birmingham set to celebrate the hundreds of thousands of Desi residents during South Asian Heritage Month, we took a look at all the mega events connected to the community.
Birmingham Museums will present a range of enlightening and enthralling activities and events during the annual South Asian Heritage Month celebrated between July 18 to August 17. However, they are not the only ones to honour, recognise, and appreciate South Asian history and the cultural legacy, and the celebration will go on well into the year.
There’s a wide selection of events from music to literature coming to Birmingham in the next few months. Birmingham and Sandwell Mela, DESIblitz Literature Festival, The Migrant Festival at Ikon Gallery, and more will soon liven up different venues across the city.
Whether you are looking for a starter pack into South Asian culture or are looking for a deep dive, these fun events are the best place to start. They are not just for the South Asian community but anybody who is interested in the colourful and often loud folks that we are. Here are six big events coming to Birmingham to celebrate South Asian heritage:
5. Big John Mela 23 at Cannon Hill Park
On August 6, Big John’s Mela will return to Cannon Hill Park for a one day event. There’s going to be amazing music, food, family-friendly activities and a lot more fun at the fair. Pakistani singer, Ali Zafar, who has sung several hits for Bollywood as well, will be performing at the big festival this year. Several local talents have also been confirmed for the annual event, where Atif Aslam has performed in previous years. | BirminghamWorld
6. DESIblitz Literature Festival
UK’s leading Literature Festival for authors with Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan roots which will be taking place in Birmingham from 20th – 29th October. The festival will take place across multiple locations in Birmingham including B Music (formerly Symphony Hall), The Exchange Building, The Police Museum, Aston University, as well as Libraries in both West Bromwich and Hamdsworth. Authors at this year’s festival include crime novelists Saima Mir, Ajay Chowdhury, children’s authors Costa Children’s Prize Winner 2019 Jasbinder Bilan and more. Plus there will be poetry readings, bhangra music and dance performances as well as a headline event featuring a panel of the cast and crew of seminal British sit-com Goodness Gracious Me which celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. (Photo - DESIblitz Literature Festival) | DESIblitz Literature Festival