THIS year’s annual celebration of Indian culture has been cancelled because not enough organisations signed up to take part.

It was hoped the Swindon Mela, which celebrates South Asian food and music, would take place on July 25 at the Old Town Gardens but after a meeting earlier this month it was decided not to go ahead.

The number of groups signed up to take part was down 30 per cent on previous years due to other large Mela events being held elsewhere in the country, rendering many of the organisations who usually take part unavailable.

Many of those who have not signed up are the food vendors for which the event has become so well known.

A statement on the Swindon Mela website following the meeting said: “A survey of the situation indicated that nearly all of the regular stallholders had opted to take up pitches at the two other Melas which this year were also scheduled for the same day as the Swindon Mela.

“These two Melas in the Midlands and north attract significantly many more visitors and are two-day events and these facts are the cause of the reduction in uptake by stallholders in the Swindon Mela.

“The project team felt that with the significantly reduced number of stalls and catering pitches, our visitors would not be provided with a high standard Mela that they have come to expect during the past 13 Melas.

“The project team regret very much to have taken the decision to cancel the 2015 Mela and sincerely apologise to the stallholders and sponsors who did make a commitment in the past few weeks to support the 2015 Mela and to all of the visitors so many of whom have been looking forward to attending the 2015 Mela.

“The team sincerely hope that all concerned will understand the need to have taken this decision.”

It follows a turbulent year for the festival which has proved incredibly popular in the past with Swindon residents of all backgrounds.

Last year’s event was cancelled due a lack of funds and although it went ahead in 2013, there was confusion over booking the venue.

However, organisers said they are keen to hold a series of smaller events in its place.

“It is the intention of the Project Team to keep on working hard to find other ways of continuing the Mela through smaller events over the coming months so that the theme and spirit of the Swindon Mela continues,” said a spokesman on the event website.