HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ATTEND LEICESTER'S FIRST MANGO FESTIVAL

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury. I should point out that the final six paragraphs appear in the online edition of the article, but not in the print version.

Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Keith Vaz MP and Bhai Jagtap with the elephants unveiled at the mango fesitval, in Cossington Street recreation ground

Hundreds of people attend Leicester's first mango festival

by David Owen

An Indian summer arrived early in Leicester today as the hottest day of the year so far coincided with the city’s first ever mango festival.

With temperatures reaching 22C (72F), hundreds of people visited Belgrave’s Cossington Park to enjoy the unique event.

Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, host of the hit Indian Masterchef TV show, was star attraction at the festival.

Greeted on stage to cheers and applause from the crowds, he said: “It’s a beautiful day to join you all here in Leicester. The reason we are here is because of the city’s hospitality – and the great taste of mangos!

“It’s an honour and a privilege to be here with you.”

Today's event recreated the world-famous International Mango Festival, which is held in Delhi every June.

Sanjeev treated festival goers to a cooking master class focusing on dishes using mangos. He was joined on stage by Bollywood choreographer Shiamak Davar and Bollywood movie art director and set designer Nitin Desai.

Other attractions included live music, dancing and children’s competitions.

Belgrave resident Avtar Kaur, 45, said: “In India the mango is king – it’s the national fruit and the most tasty.

“It’s such a lovely day and beautiful weather for everyone to get together in the park.

“I’m really enjoying myself with my friends and the weather couldn’t be more ideal.”

Vij Joraniya, 20, also of Belgrave, said: “I’m here to see Sanjeev. He’s the most famous chef in the whole of India and it’s so great to see him here in Leicester.”

Lavtar Singh Ruprah, 47, of Wigston, was enjoying a family day out with wife Reema and the couple’s two boys, Dhilan, two, and Harmeet, one.

“It’s a nice day out for the family and it’s nice to see people from all different communities in Leicester enjoying the sunshine and mangos,” he said. “You couldn’t have picked a better day for it, could you.”

The festival’s centrepiece was four ornately carved and decorated life-size wooden elephants – symbols of luck and prosperity in the subcontinent.

Thousands of delicious Alphonso mangos from the Kokan region of Maharashtra state were supplied courtesy of Indian producers who organised a similar festival in London on Sunday.

The decision to bring the festival here was made just 10 days ago after organisers approached Leicester East MP Keith Vaz.

He said: “It has taken a lot of hard work and organisation to put this festival together, but we did it in just 10 days.

“I’d like to thank the City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, the city council, members of the Belgrave Traders Association and everyone else for making this happen.”

The festival only went ahead after an appeal in the Mercury saw the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir temple, in Gipsy Lane, the Shreeji Dham Haveli temple, in Melton Road, and Leicester City Football Club agree to look after the elephants, which will be on show with two even bigger ones in the next few months.

Mr Vaz told the crowd: “These elephants will bring a great deal of luck to the city and in particular Leicester City FC, who play a very important match on Thursday.”

Speaking about today's sunny weather, Mercury weatherman Dave Mutton said: “It's more like India than Leicester. Ideal weather for our first mango festival.”

Organisers, however, have come in for some criticism after the supply of mangos ran out just 45 minutes into the festival.

“It was too short notice and not enough was done to tell local people what was going on,” said Gunvant Patel, 72, of Belgrave.

“About 500 people turned up at the park at 4.30pm only to be told it was all over. They went home feeling pretty disappointed.”

He added: “They called it a mango festival but it was more like a mango promotion, and in any case there were no mangos left by 3.45pm. Many people feel a bit short changed by the whole thing.”

LAST GASP GO-AHEAD FOR MANGO FESTIVAL

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Last gasp go-ahead for Mango festival

by David Owen

Leicester will host its first ever Mango festival on Bank Holiday Monday after 11th- hour plans came together just in time for the extravaganza to go ahead.

Organisations across the city answered Leicester East MP Keith Vaz's SOS call issued through the Mercury last week.

The politician admitted he cut it fine, but it has been confirmed that Belgrave's Golden Mile will replicate the world-renowned fruit festival held in Delhi every June.

Cossington Recreation Ground will be a sea of yellow and orange, with city residents from all communities invited to come along and join the fun.

In keeping with tradition, four giant ornately-carved wooden elephants will be the centrepiece of the festival, which will include Indian cooking demonstrations, dancing and music.

Mr Vaz hailed the staging of the festival an "organisational triumph" for the city.

"We really had our backs to the wall," he said. "But Leicester has been able to pull this together in just 10 days.

"It has been a magnificent effort and I want to thank the City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, the city council's festival team, the police, Belgrave Traders Association and others for pulling this together at very short notice.

"I am particular delighted that a home has been found for the six elephants that will come especially from India." 

The elephants that could have proved the sticking point, with Mr Vaz appealing for local organisations to provide a home for the giant wooden animals. "A number of local groups, organisations and individuals contacted me offering a home for the elephants," he said.

The four life-size carvings will arrive on Monday, with two 24ft by 12ft giants arriving the following week after the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir temple, on Gipsy Lane, Shreeji Dham Haveli temple, Melton Road, and Leicester City Football Club agreed to look after the elephants.

The Mango Festival will take place from 3pm, with activities for all ages, including cooking with celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, dancing with Bollywood choreographer Shiamak Davar and a visit by Bollywood movie art director and set designer Nitin Desai.

Dharmesh Lakhani, chairman of Belgrave Business Association, said: "It's taken a lot of hard work but the fact it's going ahead is thanks to the effort put in by Keith and everyone else involved.''

LET'S BUILD FIRST ASIAN MALL

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Let's build first Asian mall

The frequent occurrence of often violent robberies in the Golden Mile and the impending improvements to reduce them will probably eventually result in the area becoming a pedestrian-only zone.

Is there another solution to this problem which, at the same time, gives the city a major tourist attraction?

Shortly, Sainsbury's is leaving its present position and moving to the site once occupied by Thorn Lighting, while the present site will probably be made into smaller units.

Could not – with a lot of thought, discussion, investigation and negotiation – traders turn the vacated property into the first Asian shopping mall in the UK and, possibly, Europe?

The mall would have an area for a restaurant that would supply all types of Asian cuisine and an area separated from the main hall to accommodate insurance brokers, solicitors, financial advisers, travel agents – probably including the visa office secured by Keith Vaz.

It could become a fully comprehensive area for the Asian community.

One of the biggest problems with the Golden Mile is the lack of parking.

This would be solved, as there is a large car park.

Another problem is security, which again could be an improvement on the present situation.

Obviously, the financial side would have to be considered, but even that could be helped by applying for various sources such as the Lottery Fund, the Portas Fund – even the council could help.

There are a lot of Asian entrepreneurs who might even be interested in entering negotiations with Sainsbury's.

Perhaps Ratilal Govins would consider discussing such a proposition, its feasibility and its potential as a tourist attraction, as, apart from Leicester, there are many other areas with large numbers of Asians who would welcome such a project and could become regular visitors to the centre.

Perhaps Mr Vaz would lend his support to such a project.

If it did cause any problems, perhaps the Gandhi statue could be re-sited in the hall or in the entrance to the mall.

If it did not offend, perhaps it could named the Gandhi Centre.

Mr G Wainwright, Oadby

GOVERNMENT TO HEAR PLEA ON COST OF POLICING EDL MARCH

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Government to hear plea on cost of policing EDL march

MP Keith Vaz and Leicestershire Chief Constable Simon Cole are to meet Government minister Nick Herbert to discuss the cost of policing last weekend's English Defence League march.

As previously reported by the Mercury, the Leicestershire force faces a bill of at least £800,000 for protests by the EDL and Unite Against Fascism last weekend.

The final bill could be even higher when planning and preparations in the run-up to the day itself are taken into account.

Leicester East MP Mr Vaz said it was "unfair" that the entire cost for the policing operation lay at the door of the county force, which has had to save millions of pounds from its budget because of Government spending cuts.

He raised the issue, along with his concern at the impact on frontline policing from budget cuts, with policing minister Mr Herbert during the Police Grants debate in the House of Commons.

Speaking after the debate, he said: "Leicestershire Constabulary, like others in the country, is facing serious cuts to its budget in light of the Government's deficit reduction programme.

"It is highly unfair that the £800,000 bill for policing the march should have to be met by the Leicestershire police force.

"I am delighted that policing minister Nick Herbert has agreed to meet with me on this issue."

Chief Constable Simon Cole has also accepted an invitation from Mr Vaz to meet him and the minister.

A police spokesman said: "The chief constable has been invited to meet with Mr Vaz and Mr Herbert to discuss the issues surrounding the cost of policing these kinds of protest marches and the implications for police resources."

About 700 people took part in the EDL march on Saturday, February 4, while police said 200 joined the Leicester Unite Against Fascism's counter protest on a separate route.

The chief constable put 2,200 officers on the streets on the day, with most of the operation costs coming from the need to bring in police from 16 other forces.

The Leicestershire force was praised for its handling of the potentially volatile affair and there were no arrests.

Although the police are entitled to a financial contribution from football clubs such as Leicester City for policing home games, that is not currently the case with protests involving loosely-affiliated groups such as the EDL.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Ministers regularly conduct private meetings with MPs to discuss any issues or concerns."

Writing in a First Person column in the Mercury, earlier this week, Mr Cole said: "It is not for the police to set the laws, but I do think that there needs to be some reflection about the costs and expectations placed on police forces as we are currently paying, on your behalf, the price of free speech.

"That price is significant, and it is paid with the money paid in through taxes by us all."

box 15

To Walkers Stadium this afternoon, for a meeting called by the Leicester Strategic Partnership for those doing the work in their Host Organisations. This meeting follows on from an all-day event, the latest in the "Making It Real" series of events - this one on the theme of "Stronger Neighbourhoods". We only received a week's notice of this and the other Host Organisations may not be able to send someone in support, but I thought it a good idea to go, so I've confirmed that I'll be there. This despite the fact that I'm labouring with a heavy cold and it's raining.

The woman on reception has this event on her schedule as the "Post 3:30 Meeting" and she directs me to Box 15, on the third floor. I sit in Box 15 (which has a very nice view of the pitch, as you can see, above) for about 20 minutes, wondering when anyone else is going to show. Sitting in this empty room, gazing out on the deserted stadium, pitch partly covered, goalposts taken down ... it begins to feel like a meditation on nothing much at all. After a while, I start to wonder if I'm in the right place. I make my way back down to the Grand Hall, where the "Making It Real" event would have been held. Perhaps it's overrun. I'll probably meet some people making their way up to the third floor for my meeting. These corriders are longer and quieter than I would have first thought - and because the lights switch on automatically by sensor as you pass under them, it's all a bit darker too. When I do find the Grand Hall, it's empty, with only a few staffers in the early stages of cleaning up. I ask one young woman picking up empty cups and saucers if she knows whether anyone was making their way up for the "Post 3:30 Meeting"; but she tells me she heard them making the decision to cancel that meeting earlier in the day.

On the way home through the rain, I phone Dee at LCIL. She reminds me that we'd made a decision that since we couldn't all go, then none of us would go. I remember discussing this at our meeting on Tuesday, but don't remember actually deciding anything about it. But it makes sense, and it's our mutually supportive way. But if that's so, how come the woman doing the cleaning up heard them decide to cancel the meeting this morning? And why was it still on the schedule at reception? My head is too full of cold and I've had way too much Lemsip to figure this one out - obviously.

Find out more about the Walkers Stadium:
http://www.thewalkersstadium.co.uk/