Nisha Tandon (63) is the co-founder of Belfast's multi-cultural arts festival, the Mela, and of ArtsEkta. Her new venture, Silk Road Supper Club, helps refugees to integrate via food and culture. The 'Mini Mela' takes place today from 1pm in Belfast city centre.
How do you unwind at the weekend?
I live on Upper Malone and go for a long walk so that involves Barnett Park and the Mary Peters track and the towpath. I do a full five-mile walk every Saturday and Sunday, usually by myself. But sometimes my good friend Anne joins me. Today is the Mini Mela in Writers' Square in the Cathedral Quarter - it's smaller than the normal Mela in Botanic Gardens which attracts 30,000 people. And if things aren't so good, we'll continue the online Mela we started last year. This has enabled us to partner with artists from other countries such as India and we're hoping to do exchange visits in the future.
What do you recall most about weekends growing up?
We had a very tight schedule when I grew up in Delhi. My father, a senior banker with an American company, said Saturday was the day my sister, brother and I had to go to the children's little theatre. We spent the whole day in the dance and music school, but did theatre first. I performed in dramas from the age of nine or 10. I loved it and we toured right across Delhi. On Sunday, we went with all the family to the cafe at Connaught Place in New Delhi. I remember my father was a great lover of coffee. We'd come home and have a traditional Sunday meal, that is chicken curry, in the late afternoon when it wasn't so hot. I'm now totally vegetarian.
Friday night or Saturday night?
Neither. Once I've done a full week's delivery, I just want to chill.
Do you have a must-listen weekend radio show or podcast?
I like any podcast to do with theatre or dance but have no favourite as such. If I'm tuning in to local radio, it's U105, but if not, it's Indian Radio Sunrise or the BBC's Asian Network.
Do you have a must-watch TV show/box set?
Not really, I don't watch too much TV but I like food programmes.
Is Sunday still special?
As somebody from a Hindu background, Sunday isn't the special day, it's Tuesday. For me, though, every day is the same.
Have you a favourite eatery or is it a takeaway?
We like to go for a good veggie meal at Deane and Decano on the Lisburn Road which has never let us down.
How do you feel on Sunday night about Monday morning?
I have no problem at all about getting back to work. It's the thing to do. I've been loving every moment of getting the Silk Road Suppers going, part of the Art Route we started to help refugees arriving in Northern Ireland. We want to give people the opportunity to feel at home. Everybody deserves equality and the same opportunity. I don't know whether we will see Afghan refugees here, but everybody brings richness when they come here. The people cooking the food for the suppers are so meticulous: if a recipe needs a lemon, it has to be the right lemon.
Belfastmela.org.uk
