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Vibrant India comes to life at Surajkund

The internationally acclaimed annual Surajkund Crafts Mela, which showcases the skills of hundreds of craftsmen and artisans from the country and abroad, is on in Faridabad, Haryana.

More than 400 craftsmen are showcasing their skills and products to visitors this year. Over 200 performers of folk dance, drama and other performing arts, including Octave dance group from Northeast will perform to entertain the masses thronging the Mela.

They include Kaal Belia (Rajasthan), Siddi Goma (Gujarat), Brij Ki Holi & Charkula (UP), Bhangra (Punjab), Been Sapera & Banchari (Haryana), 'Tajik Dances', 'Egyptian Tannoura Dance' and 'Thai Traditional Dances'.

Vibrant India comes to life at Surajkund

There will be cultural performances daily from 6 pm onwards in the Open Air Theatre named Natyashala.

The food court within the Mela premises has cuisine from across the country. Yielding to the popular suggestion, an extensive amusement park has been set up next to the Shekhawati gate for the benefit of children.

Shekhawati gate has been built by the theme state, Rajasthan as an added attraction this year.

Vibrant India comes to life at Surajkund

The Mela also has a number of competitions for school/college students such as rangoli, face-painting competition, essay writing competition, mehendi competition, drawing competition, kite flying competition and photography competition for amateurs.

The main items and skill on display include folk painting, terracotta, iron craft, bamboo and cane crafts, wood crafts, stone crafts, lac bangles, dhokra crafts, patola sarees, chanderi sarees, sambalpuri sarees, ikkat and pashmina shawls.

The fair also has an exclusive gallery of exhibition and sale for gems and jewellery and other craftwork of exquisite worth from Rajasthan.

Vibrant India comes to life at Surajkund

In addition, 40-45 craftspersons from countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand and Egypt are also participating in the 24th crafts fair.

The Surajkund Crafts Mela was first held in 1987 and over the years, organisers have introduced several new features though the duration of the Mela remained same from 1st to 15th February every year.

One of the main objectives of this Mela is to project the sensitivity of the rich Indian art, culture, music and folk art under one single banner and at one single venue for the benefit of its visitors besides providing the young generation an opportunity to have a first hand feel of the extraordinary variety of the tradition and rural ambience that happens to be the hallmark of our country.

Vibrant India comes to life at Surajkund

The festival is a bonanza for the foreign and domestic tourists in educating themselves about the diversity of Indian traditions and culture besides enjoying the vibrant ambiance created typically to represent the entire ethos of rural India in miniature.

The Mela also offers the participating craftsmen a direct opportunity and exposure to market their products to both the customers and end users.

Strict security arrangements have been made in and around Mela area. Extensive arrangements for parking space have been planned and efficient and attractive ferry arrangements have been made to bring visitors from the parking place to the gate of Mela.