Festival of Thetford & Punjab 2025
Thousands of people joined us in July 2025 for the Festival of Thetford & Punjab, a cross-cultural celebration inspired by the people of Thetford and the Duleep Singh family, the last Royal Family of the Punjab who lived in nearby Elveden. This year’s programme comprised a weekend of exciting events at Ancient House Museum, Thomas Paine Hotel’s Annual Curry Night, and the Thetford Mela, a day of music, performance and dance at Thetford Grammar School.
Pictured here: G.I.D.H.A. at the Thetford Mela.
Thetford Mela
Sunday 13 July 1-5pm
We once again took over the grounds of Thetford Grammar School for this year’s Thetford Mela! The event featured the Heritage Brass Band fromRajasthan, the Jaggi Brothers, the legendary Heera Group Dhami & Kumar, the traditional all-female Punjabi folk dancers G.I.D.H.A, Circus Raj, Sikh martial arts from Baba Fateh Singh Gatka Akhara, BEE2 Bhangra Star, dance students from Thetford Academy, and Elene & Vasile Foca from Ipswich. The day also featured the brand new Colours of Thetford exhibition, Indian food, Henna Art, arts, crafts and heritage stalls, and A Parade of Self, a project by artists Kim Davey and TriggerBliss.
The Main Stage was hosted by Sunrise Radio with a special appearance by presenters Raj Ghai and Paul Shah.
Image copyright Essex Cultural Diversity Project
Photographers: Jo Nancarrow & Daisy Lees
Festival of Thetford & Punjab 2025
Thousands of people joined us in July 2025 for the Festival of Thetford & Punjab, a cross-cultural celebration inspired by the people of Thetford and the Duleep Singh family, the last Royal Family of the Punjab who lived in nearby Elveden. This year’s programme comprised a weekend of exciting events at Ancient House Museum, Thomas Paine Hotel’s Annual Curry Night, and the Thetford Mela, a day of music, performance and dance at Thetford Grammar School.
Pictured here: G.I.D.H.A. at the Thetford Mela.
Thetford Mela
Sunday 13 July 1-5pm
We once again took over the grounds of Thetford Grammar School for this year’s Thetford Mela! The event featured the Heritage Brass Band fromRajasthan, the Jaggi Brothers, the legendary Heera Group Dhami & Kumar, the traditional all-female Punjabi folk dancers G.I.D.H.A, Circus Raj, Sikh martial arts from Baba Fateh Singh Gatka Akhara, BEE2 Bhangra Star, dance students from Thetford Academy, and Elene & Vasile Foca from Ipswich. The day also featured the brand new Colours of Thetford exhibition, Indian food, Henna Art, arts, crafts and heritage stalls, and A Parade of Self, a project by artists Kim Davey and TriggerBliss.
The Main Stage was hosted by Sunrise Radio with a special appearance by presenters Raj Ghai and Paul Shah.
Image copyright Essex Cultural Diversity Project
Photographers: Jo Nancarrow & Daisy Lees