Festival at Warrenside, Bradley, organised by Yorkshire Lions FC
Jun 15, 2014: :Thousands of Sikhs and people of other faiths flocked to Bradley for the fifth annual Mela, on Saturday.
The festival, which celebrates the best of Sikh culture, drew crowds from across the UK with martial arts, sports and music.
Highlights included a gatka (Sikh sword fighting) competition, a turban tying contest and demonstrations from an authentic American SWAT team.
The event also featured weightlifting, tug-of-war, falconry displays, cricket, fairground rides and live music from bhangra artist Kuldeep Purewal.
Members of the Royal British Legion and British Army officers joined the Sikh community to unveil plans for a World Wars Sikh memorial.
Thousands of Sikhs lost their lives fighting for Britain in both World Wars.
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The Mela – Sanskrit for ‘fair’ – was organised by Yorkshire Lions FC.
Organiser Kalvinder Bhullar, an official of the club, said: “It was a bit shaky with the weather in the morning but the crowds were flocking in after that.
“People have loved the SWAT team and their demonstrations of how they arrest people.
“The Mela is a community festival with no alcohol.
“We’ve had plenty of non-Sikhs here today because it’s for everyone.”