ಮೇಳ ಎಂದರೆ ತಂಡ,ಗುಂಪು,ಜಾತ್ರೆ ಮುಂತಾದ ಅರ್ಥವಿದೆ.ಇದು ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತ ಭಾಷೆಯಿಂದ ಬಂದಿರುವ ಶಬ್ದ.ಉದಾಹರಣೆಗೆ ಕುಂಭಮೇಳ. ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ,ವಾಣಿಜ್ಯಿಕ,ಕ್ರಿಡಾ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಉತ್ಸವಗಳೂ ಒಳಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತವೆ.

Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning "gathering" or "to meet" or a "fair". It is used in the Indian subcontinent for all sizes of gatherings and can be religious, commercial, cultural or sport-related. In rural traditions melas or village fairs were of great importance. This led to their export around the world by South Asian diaspora communities wishing to bring something of that tradition to their new countries.