An annual festival packed with colour, music, cultural food stalls and a funfair returns this Sunday.

The Eid Community Mela festivities will be held at Gravesham Fort Gardens between 2pm and 4pm.

The event, hosted by Cohesion Plus in partnership with Arts Council England, will be the second since a two-year haitus during the pandemic.

Creative director of Cohesion Plus Gurvinder Sandher said: “We had such a positive response to the mela last year that we have made this year’s artistic and cultural offer even more ambitious with acts from across the diaspora.

“There is also some excellent off-stage activity taking place for everyone to enjoy.”

There will be music workshops for babies with the Playground Project plus sporting fun with Kent Cricket, as well as face painting and other community-run stalls.

A diverse line up of Arabic, Middle Eastern and South Asian musical acts will also feature.

Eid, known formally as Eid Al-Fitr, is an Islamic holiday that marks the end of the Ramadan period of fasting.

In keeping with tradition, Muslim families gathered last month to celebrate the holy day but the mela will provide an opportunity for the wider community to get together.

The aim of the event will be to break down cultural barriers and misunderstandings, and to promote community cohesion.

Gurvinder said: “I am so pleased to be once again delivering this event working alongside the Muslim community who we have a long and proud working relationship with.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone on the day.”