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.
Between 6pm and 7pm there will be performances on the Bandstand by Steel Ambition,Blogo Fogo and DJ Stan Lee King. Then the 9 local schools and some 300 young people who will be making special lanterns for the event which will promote the Paralympic Values of Courage, Determination, Inspiration and Equality will come into the arena school by school where they will receive a medal for their participation. This element of the event will climax with the National Anthem before the Lantern Parade departs led by Samba and Dhol Drummers to the Riverfront where the evening will climax 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 who has organised the celebration commented “What I would like to do is invite as many people as possible from the local community to come and join in the fun and bring along their union flag to wave and support the children.
We have had a great British summer and I hope that as many people as possible will come and support us. It is important that we use events such as the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics and the Paralympics to come together as one and celebrate what makes us British. I hope that local community groups, business and sports clubs will support our campaign and come and wave the flag on the 7th”
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.” 
