Tens of thousands of people are anticipated to attend the 17th Belfast Mela Festival later this month to take in performances of music, dance, arts, drama, wellness, and gastronomy.

Mela Colours, a colourful powder-throwing event, will be added to the lineup this year on August 26 before the major celebration day on August 27.

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Ryan Murphy, stated the Mela Festival “encapsulates our city and its welcoming spirit, while also celebrating the diverse, dynamic and fantastic mix of cultural diversity” during the event's opening.

“The nine-day festival is an important platform that will allow minority ethnic communities to share and express their identity and embodies our collective vision for a shared future in Belfast,” Ryan said.

Highlights of the event this year are expected to include a funfair procession through the city with representatives from more than 20 different cultural groups, a mini-mela at Belfast City Hall and the main festival at Botanic Gardens on 27 August.