IT was more monsoon than Mela weather but thousands of revellers enjoying Southampton's fifth annual celebration of Asian music and culture did not seem to mind.

More than 8,000 people flocked to the city's Hoglands Park on Saturday to enjoy the sights and sounds of the sub continent and beyond.

The following day it was Eastleigh's turn as the Mela magic spread to Leigh Road recreation ground.

Everything from Bollywood to belly dancing, and bhangra to brass bands, was on offer with local performers rubbing shoulders with international artists.

Visitors enjoyed arts and crafts, stalls of traditional Asian clothes and jewellery, information about community and charity projects and even a funfair.

The Southampton Mela Festival has grown every year and artistic director Vinod Desai believes it is now one of the most important Asian celebrations anywhere on the south coast.

He said: "Mela means meeting together, so it's a festival where we welcome everybody - the whole community. Not just from Southampton but the whole region.

"It is for everybody. Arts and culture is for everybody to celebrate. It is different everywhere in the world - if it was the same everywhere it would not be such a joy. Every year it has got bigger and better and this is one of the biggest festivals in Southampton and one of the major festivals in the region - south of London we are the biggest festival now."

Vinod was delighted so many people had decided to brave the weather.

"Today there is a lot of rain, I could perhaps call it monsoon weather, but there are still a lot of people around here," he said.

"It's a test of the Mela that everyone comes when the sun shines, but even in the wet weather people are still coming out and enjoying themselves."

Yesterday in Eastleigh some of the best world music acts in the UK were on the bill including Transglobal Underground, The Baghdaddies and Achanak, who took to the stage to round off an action packed day which featured dance, children's workshops, stalls and demonstrations. Bollywood blockbuster Eklavya also hit the big screen at The Point arts centre.