MELA 2003 10-12th October 2003 Wembley Exhibition Hall Empire Way Wembley Ticket: £10 5-11yrs are £5 in advance. Under 5's are FREE. Box Office 0870 060 1030 (subject to booking fee)

The UK's biggest Asian lifestyle exhibition and interactive event takes place on the 10-12 October 2003 at the Wembley Exhibition Halls. Mela 2003, which is presented by the UK's largest Asian satellite and cable TV channel, Zee TV, sponsored by Ford and supported by the BBC Asian Network is a three day lifestyle and cultural extravaganza, that will take place in Wembley Exhibition Halls 1, 2 & 3. It features six fabulous pavilions packed to the brim with exhibitors, interactive features and great offers, giving visitors the chance to savour the fantastic flavours of the Indian subcontinent all under one roof.

The show's official charity, Cancer Research UK, have got a real treat in store on their The Cancer Research UK Stage. This feature promises to be a hive of activity with music and dance from their specially formed Bollwood pop group, CR4. See them perform a min-pop concert every hour featuring exclusive tracks highlighting the facts about cancer….education and entertainment rolled into one!

The Fashion Pavilion is the ultimate shopper's paradise offering visitors the very best in Asian designer and high street fashions. Combined with stands selling authentic bindis, bangles and ethnic jewellery, the fashion pavilion is the only place to be to ensure you have all the necessary ethnic elements to add to your wardrobe!

The BT Fashion Catwalk, hosted by top TV presenter Simone Bienne, will captivate visitors with alluring Asian fashions. Creations will be showcased by some of the UK's leading Asian designers, including Gabys, Maya, Rang Collection, Rani Fashions, Redd London, Sonia, Traditions and Variety Silk House, with a fabulous jewellery collection showcased by Kyles Collection. With four dramatic shows a day the BT Fashion Catwalk is the jewel in the crown of Mela 2003.

Friday 10th October also sees the Grand Final of the 'Young Designer of the Year Competition'. The competition has been running over the course of the year, and twenty finalists will be presenting their awesome designs in front of fashion icon Zandra Rhodes. The winner of the amazing competition will spend two weeks under the guidance of Ms Rhodes at the recently launched Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey.

When people think of Asian culture, they inevitably think of the nation's favourite food…Curry! Mela 2003 will feature two fabulous Food Courts, where you can savour the delights of traditional kebabs, fresh naans, samosas and even chicken tikka masala. Alongside the tasty Food Courts is the Cookery Theatre, sponsored by Recycle for London, where visitors will be able to learn from the masters, it's a must for anyone with a passion for cooking!

As well as spicy curries, visitors will be able to learn how to recreate food from around the world, with a range of the capital eateries taking part including Indian restaurants Bombay Brasserie and Quilon, Yo Sushi! and Spanish restaurant Fino.

The Cookery Theatre will also feature its fair share of celebrity chefs, including India's leading chef, Sanjeev Kapoor. Sanjeev who hosts Zee TV's hit-show Khana Khazana will be jetting in from India to show off the cooking skills that have put him at the top of the food chain! AND to top it all, we've scored a hat trick… Gos from Channel 4's Big Brother 4, will also be joining in the fun and creating some mouth-watering Caribbean delicacies!

The Grand Final of the Taj SuperCook Competition also takes place at the Mela, where budding chefs will be battling it out to create a menu under the 'Global Masala' banner. The winner receives the trip of a lifetime to India, where they will get to shadow the Executive Chef at the world-renowned Taj Mahal hotel in Bombay!

The Wedding, Health & Beauty Pavilion will take visitors on a journey into the glitzy world of hair and beauty authentic India health remedies. Narinder of TV reality show Big Brother fame will be the host of the Health, Beauty & Lifestyle Stage, which will feature demonstrations from the industry's top professionals including head massages, Bollywood aerobics and henna tattoos as well as interior design ideas using ethnic fabrics, Asian art and exotic floral arrangements.

On hand throughout the three days will be the world's leading henna artist Ash Kumar and representatives from the holistic and skincare guru Bharti Vyas's London salon. Or if you want to look bootylicious, pay a visit to hairdressers Toni & Guy, Profile Aesthetics cosmetics or Fitness First.

The Careers & Commerce Pavilion will give visitors the chance to discuss career opportunities with representatives from a wide range of blue chip companies, Government departments and other organisations.

For all you lovers of the new Brit-Asian music scene, the BBC Asian Network Stage will be brought to life with an explosive line up of British Asian musicians, dancers, singers and performers. Watch a performance by the cast of hit West-End musical Bombay Dreams. Preeya Kalidas will be performing tunes from her latest film Bollywood Queen. And if you want a taste of the British Asian music scene, don't miss top performances by DCS, Panjabi Hit Squad, The Rishi Rich project featuring Jay Sean and Juggy D, Apache Indian, Bobby Friction, Dr Zeus and General Levy.

And no Asian show would be complete without a tribute to the biggest film industry in the world - Bollywood. And Mela 2003 is no exception! The newly wed Karisma Kapoor, who descends from one of the greatest film dynasties in Bollywood, will be jetting in from the other side of the world to be at the show. Visitors will get the chance to rub shoulders with this living screen legend as she appears across all the stages at the show and signs autographs.

Not only will Mela 2003 be the ultimate cultural shopping experience, it will be a great family fun day out with something for everybody to enjoy!