Over 1000 people attended the celebrations on Friday September 7 at the Riverside Leisure Area to mark the climax of the Paralympic Games and the Great British Summer which included the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games including over 350 local school children who took part in a lantern parade. The community celebration was organised by Kent Equality Cohesion Council in partnership with Cohesion Plus with the support of Gravesham Borough Council.
Following performances by Pan Steel Group Steel Ambition and Samba Group Bloco Fogo there were presentations made to all the children who took part in the event by making lanterns for the parade which promoted the Paralympic Values of Courage, Determination, Inspiration and Equality. They were each presented with medals by the Mayor of Gravesham Cllr. Lyn Milner and the Chairman of KECC Dev Sharma MBE along with representatives from local partners including Kent Police, Dartford and Gravesend Muslim Association, Afro-Caribbean Business Forum and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
Following the National Anthem where many present waved their Union Flags the parade led by the Four by Four Bhangra Youth Club and Bloco Fogo departed from the Bandstand to the Riverfront where the evening climaxed with a spectacular light show on the Sky Dome which was been created by arts Company Samesky.
Gurvinder Sandher the Director of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented “We hope that the celebrations today helped to inspire all the young people who took part. I was overwhelmed with the level of support that we received on the night and this was a real cross community and cross generational event with everyone coming together to celebrate this historic British Summer. We should be really proud in Gravesham of how our communities come together and celebrate as one from Vaisakhi to Saint George’s Day to the Diamond Jubilee to Eid and now this event.”
Kent Equality Cohesion Council in partnership with Cohesion Plus haveorganised a free community celebration to mark the climax of the Paralympic Games and the Great British Summer which has also seen the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and the Olympic Games. This will be taking place on Friday September 7 on the Riverside Leisure Area.
The Gravesend Community Mela Festival which had to be cancelled due to rain will now take place on Saturday August 18 at the Bandstand in the Fort Gardens, Promenade between 2pm and 5.30pm.
The Mela will be headlined by the Crown Prince of Bhangra Jazzy B with perfomrances also on the day by Benny Dhaliwal, Raju Dinehwala, Jai, Shin Cobra, Four by Four Bhangra and the Iconic Roadshow.
Gurvinder Sandher who has organised the event commented “We have worked very hard to rearrange the Mela. I am especially grateful to all the artists especially Jazzy B and his management for their understanding following the last minute cancellation of the event in July due to the poor weather, our community partners and our funders Arts Council England. I am hoping that we will have a great day and that the local community will come and support this free community event. There will be a number of emerging artists performing and is an excellent showcase for the new talent which is coming through on the Bhangra / Urban music scene.” 
