mel
mel — noun
1. A large public gathering in South Asia, typically with a religious purpose, wher
A large public gathering in South Asia, typically with a religious purpose, where crowds come together for markets, ceremonies, and entertainment.
The Kumbh Mela is the largest mel on earth, drawing millions of pilgrims.
proper noun collocation: Kumbh Mela
Sana travelled to the mel near the river to buy handmade cloth.
At the mel, Tariq watched dancers perform and ate fresh jalebi.
The village of Haripur holds a mel every spring to honour the local temple.
Ananya set up her jewellery stall at the mel beside the old temple.
- fair
A fair in Western usage centres on rides and competitions, without the religious element of a mel.
- festival
A broader term covering secular and religious celebrations; a mel is specifically South Asian and usually includes market stalls.
- bazaar
A bazaar is primarily a marketplace; a mel includes markets but is a larger festive gathering.
用法筆記
Often spelled 'mela' in Indian English; both forms refer to the same type of gathering. The word is most frequently encountered in descriptions of Hindu pilgrimage festivals.