IEP Chandigarh, February 1
The 37th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2024 is going to begin on February, 2 Thursday, which will be inaugurated by President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu. Continuing its vibrant showcase until February 18, the event will also be graced by Haryana Governor Sh Bandaru Dattatreya and Chief Minister Sh Manohar Lal besides Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries Sh Krishan Pal, Haryana Minister of Tourism & School Education Sh Kanwar Pal, Haryana Minister for Higher Education Sh Mool Chand Sharma and MLA Badkhal Smt Seema Trikha among other dignitaries.
Giving this information here today, Managing Director of Haryana Tourism Corporation, Dr Neeraj Kumar, who is also Chief Administrator of Surajkund Mela Authority, said that approximately 50 countries will participate in this year’s Mela. The United Republic of Tanzania is participating as the ‘Partner Nation and it will bring colours and vibes of Africa to the mela, while the theme state is Gujarat, which is showcasing its unique culture and rich heritage through various art forms and handicrafts from the region. Surajkund Mela promises an immersive experience featuring regional and international crafts, handlooms, customs, and culinary delights from around the globe. Drawing over a million tourists annually from India and abroad, the Surajkund Mela stands as a testament to cultural exchange and celebration. He said that meticulous arrangements have been ensured including cleanliness, top-notch facilities, security, road infrastructure, lighting, electricity, sanitation facilities and parking etc. The event will also feature captivating cultural programs every day. The Surajkund International Crafts Mela stands as a beacon of cultural diversity, showcasing the richness of regional and global handicrafts, handlooms and cultural heritage on a grand scale.
Mela is to remain open from 2nd to 18th February daily from 10.00 AM to 8:00 PM
He said that jointly hosted by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in collaboration with the Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture, External Affairs and Government of Haryana, this Mela has come to occupy a place of pride and prominence on the international tourism calendar for its display of crafts, culture and authentic cuisine of India in aesthetically created ambience. It will remain open from 2nd February to 18th February, 2024, daily from 10.00 AM to 8:00 PM. Dr Neeraj Kumar said that this Mela was hosted for the first time in 1987 to showcase richness and diversity of the handicrafts, handlooms and the cultural heritage of India. A benchmark was set in the history of Surajkund Crafts Mela as it was upgraded to an international level in 2013. In 2023, more than 40 countries from Europe, Africa and Asia participated in the Mela.
Eight Eastern States ‘Astalakshma’ participating as Cultural Partners
A variety of day performers will enthrall the visitors
Dr Neeraj Kumar said that this year our eight North Eastern states, ‘Astalakshmi’ are participating as the Cultural Partners. All eight states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura have come together under one umbrella to present a never before seen garland of art , craft, cuisines and performing arts for the visitors of the mela. A variety of day performers will enthrall the visitors like at the Bhangra from Punjab, Bihu from Assam, Barsana ki Holi, Lok Niritya from Haryana, Jamakda from Himachal Pradesh, Live Demonstration of Hath Ki Chakki and the ever famous Behrupiyas, who will keep the crowds entertained with their enchanting talent and showmanship within the Mela ground. Besides this enthralling evening cultural performances during the Mela fortnight will entertain the visitors to the hilt. These include eclectic performances from bands like Parikrama, resonating bhakti performance by Methali Thakur, soulful sufi performance by Padama Shri Ustad Ahmed Hussain and Ustad Mohammed Hussain, Classical Gujarati folk by Geeta Rabri, North Eastern Bands, International Fusion, Enchanting tunes of Kailash Kher, Punjabi pop performance by Daler Mehndi, besides enthralling foot tapping dance & song shows of Gujarat, Tanzania and other international artists. Spectators can catch all the action and excitement at the Chaupal -I from 6.00 pm onwards.
Haryana & Gujarat traditional lifestyles showcased at Apna Ghar
According to the MD Tourism Dr Neeraj, a family from Haryana is going to live in specially-created ‘Apna Ghar’ to showcase the authentic lifestyle of the state. ‘Apna Ghar’ gives a chance to the visitors to experience the lifestyle of the people of the state and also provides them a chance to interact and learn about their culture. Apna ghar will show case traditional earthenware, utensils etc and craftsmen will give live demonstration of these traditional crafts. Not only Haryana but Gujarat has also created an Apna Ghar to showcase the traditional lifestyle of the Gujarati household which will be a great experience for those who want to soak in the cultural vibes at the mela.
Other highlights of the 37th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2024
He said that keeping pace with the Information Technology (IT) advancements, the Mela entry tickets can be booked online through Bookmyshow.com and easy parking through technological innovations of Smart parking. The payment will be Fast Tag enabled and cashless. The visitors will be able to book parking in advance for a completely hassle free experience of the mela. Art and culture department will showcase traditional and cultural artists like Kacchi Ghodi, Stick walker, Kalbelia, Behrupia from Rajasathan, Kangri Nati from Himachal, Bihu from Assam, Bhangra, Jindua, Jhoomer from Punjab, Chapeli from Uttarakhand, Barsana ki Holi from Uttar Pradesh, Wangia from Meghalaya, Sambhalpuri Odisha, Badhai from Madhya Pradesh and much more. He said that as a corporate social responsibility initiative, the Surajkund Mela Authority provides 50% rebate on the entry tickets to the differently-abled persons, senior citizens and serving defense personnel and ex-servicemen.
A number of exciting and innovative competitions will be organized for school students across the mela duration. Exporters and Buyers Meet is organized during the Mela fortnight that offers a ready support system for crafts persons to access and tap the export market. To beef up security arrangements more than 100 CCTV cameras have been installed in the Mela ground along with the Night Vision cameras. A large number of security personnel, including women guards, are deployed in the Mela premises to prevent the occurrence of any untoward incident or mishap. A complete ban is imposed on the plastic/polythene bags within the Mela premises, Dr Neeraj added.
