AS Eastleigh Mela festival gets underway this weekend, the Echo looks back at when a taste of Asia came to the town for the annual celebration featuring Indian classical dance, bhangra music and authentic tasty treats.

Members of the Eastleigh-based Asian Culture Welfare Association helped to organise the event to share their culture with the wider community.

The colourful day on July 12, 2009, also featured a mix of music, dance, food and workshops from around the world including steel bands, morris dancing and drumming workshops.

Daily Echo: Eastleigh Mela in 2009.

It was the culmination of the three-day Eastleigh Music Festival at Leigh Road recreation ground and these pictures show the fun that was had there.