Aj sare chad janjaal kurre
Mele nu Mele nu chal mere naal kurre ho-ho ho-ho…
Today, leave behind all worries and burdens, my girl,
Come to the fair—come to the fair with me, my love.
Kar buha sanmb shtabi ni
Eh pakarr sandook di chaabi ni
Koi sutt tu kadh gulabi ni
Pa tile di gurgabi ni
Le bootian wala roomaal kurre
Mele nu aha mele nu chal mere naal kurre hoho-hoho…
Close the door carefully, my girl,
Hold on to the key of the chest,
Put on that rosy-colored outfit,
Wear the shiny embroidered dress,
Take the floral handkerchief, my love,
Come to the fair—oh come to the fair with me, my girl.
Kanka diya fasla pakiya ne
Ghar sade barkta vasiya ne
Mera peyar tere naal gurra ni
Sone da gharra deya churra ni
Rabb kita mala maal kurre
Mele nu Mele nu chal mere naal kurre hoho-hoho…
The wheat crops have ripened,
Blessings have settled in our home,
My love for you runs deep, my girl,
Your golden bangles shine brightly,
God has made us prosperous, my love,
Come to the fair—come with me, my girl.
Ni botal cola peevan ge
Naalay kha ke pataasay jeevan ge
Dono ralke peeng chrravange
Te behke uthe khawange
Laduaa da lai k thaal kurre
Mele nu Mele nu chal mere naal kurre hoho-hoho…
We’ll drink bottles of cola,
And eat sweet sugar treats,
Together we’ll ride the swings,
Then sit and eat there,
Carrying a plate full of laddoos, my girl,
Come to the fair—come with me, my love.
Tere nain jo peeti bheng kurre
Te vang tamaater reng kurre
Koi najjar na tenu laa de ni
Jadu na akh da pa deveni
Rata rakhi roop sambaal kurre
Mele nu mele nu chal mere naal kurre…
Your eyes are intoxicating, my girl,
Your bangles glow red like tomatoes,
May no evil eye ever fall upon you,
May no spell be cast on you,
Guard your beauty carefully, my love,
Come to the fair—come with me, my girl.
Sources
East Side Story. Mela. SoundCloud, uploaded 12 Dec. 2012,
soundcloud.com/eastsidestorytheband/mela-by-east-side-story. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.
East Side Story. Mela | Tribute to Asa Singh Mastana. YouTube, uploaded by EASTSIDE STORY the band,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_WmHxbHAsQ. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.
(Romanized Punjabi poem “Mela” by Asa Singh Mastana appears in the video description.)
Mastana, Asa Singh. Mela. Punjabi poem. Romanized text reproduced in the description of Mela | Tribute to Asa Singh Mastana, YouTube, uploaded by EASTSIDE STORY the band, www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_WmHxbHAsQ.
ChatGPT. Translation of the Punjabi poem Mela by Asa Singh Mastana from Romanized Punjabi into English. OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.
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