mela

[ mey-lah ]

noun

1. a religious fair, especially one held in connection with a festival.
2. a throng of people.

mela

/ ˈmiːlə; ˈmɛlə /

noun

1. an Asian cultural or religious fair or festival

Word History and Origins

Origin of mela¹

1790–1800; < Hindi < Sanskrit melā assembly, company

Word History and Origins

Origin of mela¹

C19: Hindi, from Sanskrit mēlā an assembly, from mil to meet

Example Sentences

People prepare to celebrate Lunar New Year in many Asian countries including China and Taiwan; senior high school students celebrate graduation in Seoul, South Korea; fans cheers for a K-pop band in Jakarta, Indonesia; Kashmiri Muslim devotees pray during Mehraj-u-Alam, believed to mark Prophet Muhammad’s ascension to heaven; and Indian Hindu devotees prepare for the Magh Mela fair in Prayagraj, India.

From Seattle Times

My mother died four years ago, yet my maternal aunts — my tías Nacha, Paulita, Mela and Chayo — still send me enchiladas, chiles rellenos, beans and rice, and so much more.

From Los Angeles Times

Moretta christened the female leaders the Mothers of East Los Angeles, or MELA, and became their media spokesperson, joining them on weekly protest marches.

From Los Angeles Times

Their names are Rocco, Marietta, Tako, Hola, Mela, and Ettore - all of whom were cruelly snubbed in the best actor category.

From BBC

“They were thrown out of the house by the family of Justo, and I guess what sparked among the community through that kind of story is the shared experience of being disowned, of being thrown out of a home that you want for yourself,” said Mela Habijan, a pageant queen and L.G.B.T.Q. community organizer.

From New York Times