Mayor & mayoress are greeted by Dohl drummers

Havering residents enjoyed henna painting, dhol players and the best in Asian food at this year’s Mela Festival in Hornchurch.

Rhianna Steadman has her face painted by Anisha Mistry

The traditional Asian festival was held on The Green, outside the Queen’s Theatre, and had a variety of stalls selling ethnic jewellery, food stalls selling dishes including halwa puri, samosas, mango lassi and biryani, and henna tattoo and face painting.

There were also performances from singers Simon and the Group, and 15-year-old school girl Aman Joth from Havering.

The event on Sunday was the seventh the Asian Women’s Association of Havering has held.

Siddiqa Mubashar, who is chair of the group, said: “The association worked so hard to make it successful. There weren’t as many people as last year because the weather was bad, but the event looked beautiful and I enjoyed it very much.

“All the cultures came together and it was our aim that this is the platform for everyone to get together, and that happened that day.”