The Festival of Thetford and Punjab ends with celebratory ‘Mela’ in town

The three-day Festival of Thetford and Punjab came to a climax on Sunday with a Mela of acts from India, East Anglian and the rest of the UK.

The festival, which started on July 7, hosted events across the town and in Elveden, commemorating the 130th anniversary of the death of Maharajah Duleep Singh.

The cultural celebration was inspired by the life and legacy of the Duleep Singh family, the last royal family of the Punjab, who lived in Elveden.

Indi Sandhu, the festival’s director, said: “This year was a cultural and heritage extravaganza with the Punjabi community from all over England and the the local community coming together to share and learn each others cultures, traditions and customs through the story of Maharajah Duleep Singh.”

As well as talks and tours, the town’s Ancient House Museum opened for free giving people the chance to see a walking stick used by the Maharajah himself, which is new to the museum’s collection, as well as pop-up exhibitions.

The Mela, on the Green beside the town’s riverbank, was seen as the the perfect end to a festival which always brings colour, culture and vibrancy to the town.

Acts included Circus Raj, the Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band, Virsa Punjab Bhangra Dancers and Sikh martial arts from the Baba Fateh Singh Gatka Akhara.

Indi said: “We are thankful to the public who always support the festival as well as to the Ancient House Museum and all the staff for their support in working in partnership with the Essex Cultural Diversity Project and our funders, Breckland Council and Norfolk Arts Services.