LAST Sunday, the 3rd Asian Mela took place in High Wycombe.

It is difficult to assess the numbers who attended but the area of The Rye given over to it had reasonable numbers throughout the day. There were food stalls and a few selling cloth and jewellery and a fairground - the main attraction for the kids. Apart from climbing over army vehicles, there was little other activity. Nevertheless, the concert by Arif Lohar, a folk singer of international renown, from Pakistan, enthralled a lively crowd with his songs and rhythmic drum beats and brought the Mela to a close after 8pm. It was a pleasant day out and more encouragingly there was not a single unpleasant incident.

Indeed, Clive Rogers, who lives near The Rye,said that while he was not able to go The Rye himself, his family, including an elderly visitor, had enjoyed the day.

The visitor was happy to note she had not heard a single swear word or any bad manners.

Mr KC Sahoo from Downley and his family also had good words for the Mela, although it has some way to go to approach Melas in his home city of New Delhi.

Sohail Rana, his wife and two young children, of Hithercroft Road, Downley, had an enjoyable day and were having a picnic with the 'kebabs' from the food stalls. Iftikhar Hussain (in his 20s) from Green Street and his friends felt it was 'merely OK'. They would like more activity such as kite making, demonstrations of pottery making from India and Pakistan and reasonably priced food outlets and fairground rides.

They all had missed the fireworks, which had brought the Mela to a climax in the previous two years. The one thing almost all the people agreed upon was the lack of ANY rubbish bins, which people were forced to throw rubbish on the floor and made the area look untidy.

The other was the lack of a public address system, which reached all areas.

The Asian Mela has established itself as a cultural event in High Wycombe; this is true for the Asian community in general and the Pakistani community in particular.

However, it will not be enough to throw a few kebab stalls with a fairground and some Asian music bands and expect the people to come with the eagerness they have shown so far.

WYCOMBE Islamic Society is organising a summer bazaar at the RoundHouse Youth Center in High Wycombe on Saturday, between 11am and 6pm, when all ladies and children, (boys under ten) are welcome. Stalls will have Jilbaabs, Abbayas, scarves, cloth, jewellery, Islamic books and audio tapes, Mehndi, a talk on Islam at 4pm. Seating will be available for Men at the Multi Racial center. Call 07967 095462.