THOUSANDS flocked to Witton Park at the weekend for Blackburn's first ever "mela".

The Asian gala was the grand finale of a four-week-long festival to celebrate Asian culture.

Almost 10,000 people packed the park to see top bands, including the hottest Asian group in the country, Silinder Tardshi.

Other live bands live included Dostana, the SAZZ group, pictured, Al/Rashid and Qawal Party, all performing bangra, Hindhi and Punjabi music.

Visitors enjoyed a whole host of attractions including a fun fair, fashion show, radio roadshow, workshops, entertainment, a barbecue and food stalls.

East Lancashire's biggest Asian event was organised by the South Asian Millennium Festivals Committee.

The four-week festival has seen a wide range of events from concerts and poetry reading sessions to health awareness evenings, and a mammoth curry-tasting day, which gave locals a flavour of the area's Asian culture.

Event organiser Naushad Surve said: "It was an absolutely fantastic day. When we started the weather was bad. Nobody turned up and we were getting worried but then, all of a sudden, thousands of people poured into the park.

"The fashion show included bridal and women's wear, which was really popular, and when Silinder Tardshi came on stage the crowd was going wild. I want to thank everyone who helped, especially Councillor Ashley Whalley.

"This was the biggest Asian event in East Lancashire and I am proud it was in Blackburn."