ONE of the biggest Asian festivals in the capital are hoping to use the event to attract more organ donors.

The third annual London Mela in Gunnersbury Park, Acton, this Sunday is expecting more than 90,000 visitors, mainly from South Asian communities, and UK Transplant, is using the event as part of an ongoing drive to encourage more people to register as donors.

The London Mela, which is supported by the Mayor of London and produced by Ealing Council in partnership with Hounslow Council, is showcasing some of the biggest names in Asian entertainment including the godfathers of bhangra Alaap, DCS and Malkit Singh and Bollywood legend Usha Uthup and her big band as well as many others.

There will be a special performance of the smash hit West End musical Far Pavilions and Radio 1 DJs Bobby and Nihal will play the best in British Asian urban music on the London Flavas stage as well as other mela regulars such as workshops, performance poetry and countless children's activities.

UK Transplant is hoping some of the event's visitors will take time out to visit them and register. Debbie Chatting, marketing and campaigns manager of UK Transplant, is hoping members of the South Asian community will come forward to register.

She said: "This is a huge issue for the South Asian community and the statistics are quite startling.

"There are almost 800 people waiting for a transplant in the UK who are from a South Asian background, but this community only accounts for one per cent of the total number of organ donations.

"A transplant is far more likely to be successful if the donor and recipient are from the same ethnic origin."

Riminder Dosanjh, 28, from Southall is on the waiting list for her third kidney transplant.

She says: "I feel very fortunate to have been blessed by two organ donors, given the terrifying shortage of donors on the books today. I urge everyone in our community to use the concept of sewa, a Sikh religious philosophy about selfless service, and sign up for to the NHS Organ Donor Register today."

The London Mela is on this Sunday from 12 noon. Admission is free.