What is Mela?
Mela is a daily-updated guide to South Asian culture, events, and dining across New York City and New Jersey, covering Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Nepali communities.
What areas does Mela cover?
All five NYC boroughs, Long Island, and South Asian communities across New Jersey, including Edison, Iselin, Jersey City, and Secaucus.
How often is the events calendar updated?
Automatically, every morning, pulling from museums, cultural institutions, cinemas, and community sources across the city.
How are events verified?
Events are marked "unverified" when first added automatically, then manually reviewed and marked "verified" once confirmed accurate.
How are restaurants selected?
Each restaurant is individually reviewed and written up by hand. Mela isn't an automated directory; every listing is a real editorial pick.
Is Mela free to use?
Yes, Mela is completely free for anyone to browse.
Can I submit my own event?
Yes. Use the "Submit an Event" page to add your event directly to the calendar.