Mela
/ˈmeɪ.lə/noun
A large South Asian fair, gathering, or religious festival.
Did you know?The Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings on Earth, traditionally centered on ritual bathing at sacred rivers.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meyth₂-
“To come together or meet; the proposed ancestral root behind Sanskrit forms connected with assembling.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
melaka
“An assembly, gathering, or meeting.”
Medieval Sanskrit
Sanskrit
melā
“A gathering, fair, or public festival.”
Medieval Indo-Aryan
Hindi
melā
“A fair, festival, or large public gathering.”
19th Century
English
mela
“A South Asian fair or religious festival, adopted into English usage.”
Modern English
English
mela
“A cultural, religious, or community festival, especially one associated with South Asian traditions.”