Surajkund fair begins, theme state Rajasthan

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SME Times News Bureau | 01 Feb, 2010
The Vice President of India H.E. Mohammad Hamid Ansari today inaugurated the internationally acclaimed annual Surajkund Crafts Mela at Surajkund near New Delhi.

The Governor of Haryana, Jagannath Pahadia, Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the Union Minister for Tourism, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Kumari Selja and Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, with several other dignitaries, were also present on the occasion.

The 15-Day Mela has participating craftsmen with exquisite talents not only from the length and breadth of the Country, but even from countries like Tajikistan, Thailand and Egypt besides the neighbouring SAARC Nations. State of Rajasthan is the theme State this time.

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.

It would be 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 the end users.

Organized primarily under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Tourism, the Mela is a collective and concerted effort of agencies like Development Commissioners of Handicrafts, Handlooms and Union Ministries of Culture and External Affairs, Haryana Tourism and the Tourism Department of the theme State as they jointly conduct and coordinate the arrangements of the Mela.

The best amongst the craftsmen and folk artists converge from across the country along with their products and skills populating this 15-day long jamboree of Indian traditional art, culture and tradition. The Mela happens to be one amongst the most important and popular event in the annual national calendar organised in and around Delhi. The number of visitors that stood at over 7 lakhs last year is expected to increase substantially this time.

This year a high level team of Sri Lanka consisting of 25 persons is visiting Surajkund Crafts Mela to study the aspects of its conduct in totality with a view to replicate it.

More than 400 craftsmen sponsored by Development Commissioners Handicrafts and Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Rajasthan Government and other organisations of international repute have started reaching the venue to setup their exhibition cum sale counters within the Mela area.