The Surajkund Crafts Mela is organized annually by the Haryana Tourism Department in February. This delightful handloom and handicrafts fair is planned every year to promote the traditional Indian Handicrafts in rural ambience at Surajkund in the vicinity of Delhi. The fair was first time organized in 1981 and since then the fair continues to be a strong platform for Indian artists and craftsmen to display their skilled crafts and art work.The Surajkund Crafts Mela is an annual fair held in Surajkund, near Faridabad in the state of Haryana, India. This fair is one of the largest crafts fairs in the world, showcasing the rich and diverse handicrafts, handlooms, and cultural heritage of India.
At this annual week long fair, skilled artists from all over the country display the rich crafts tradition of India in the typical rural setting and bring alive the age-old living crafts tradition. Surajkund crafts mela offers to its visitors the exquisite and skilful paintings, textiles, wood stock, ivory work, pottery, terracotta, stonework, lac work and cane and grass work. Visitors can shop here for some of the world s most treasured wares.
The fair is not only limited to exhibitions of artwork but also presents the visual delight to its visitors in the form of special Natyashala folk dances and musical evenings at the open-air theatre.
These programs are also accompanied by lip smacking and delicious rural cuisine, adding colors to this popular crafts fair.
Every year, the Surajkund Crafts Mela is planned by selecting a particular Indian state as a theme and entire ambience for the fair is designed accordingly. Many states have showcased its finest handlooms, handicrafts and mouth-watering cuisines in past fairs.
Here are some key highlights about the Surajkund Crafts Mela:
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History and Origin: The fair was first organized in 1987 to promote the traditional Indian handicrafts and handlooms. It is held in the first fortnight of February every year.
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Theme State: Each year, a different state of India is chosen as the theme state, highlighting its unique cultural and artistic heritage. The chosen state sets up a unique pavilion to showcase its crafts, cuisine, and performing arts.
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International Participation: In recent years, the mela has also seen participation from various countries, making it a truly global event. Craftsmen from different countries display their traditional handicrafts, making it a cultural exchange platform.
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Artisans and Crafts: The mela features artisans from all over India, who display a wide range of crafts such as textiles, pottery, terracotta, woodwork, metalwork, stonework, and much more. It provides a platform for artisans to sell their products directly to the consumers, cutting out the middlemen.
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Cultural Performances: The fair also hosts cultural performances including folk dances, music, and other traditional art forms. These performances provide visitors with a glimpse into the cultural diversity of India.
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Food Court: A large food court at the mela offers a variety of traditional Indian cuisines from different states, allowing visitors to enjoy the culinary diversity of the country.
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Workshops and Demonstrations: Various workshops and live demonstrations by artisans are organized to educate visitors about the intricate processes involved in creating different crafts.
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Handicraft Awards: Awards are given to outstanding craftsmen and artisans to recognize their talent and contribution to preserving traditional arts and crafts.
How to Reach
Surajkund, the site of popular Surajkund Mela is located at a distance of 8 km from South Delhi in Faridabad. The resort is easily accessible by road. Haryana Tourist Bureau organizes special tours from 36, Janpath, New Delhi.Airways:
The nearest airport is at Delhi. The site of the fair is just 25 km from Palam Airport and also just a 35 minute drive from the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Roadways:
Surajkund is about 8km (5 miles) south of Delhi and is well connected to Delhi, Gurgaon and Faridabad towns by road. Buses are available for the fair site from ISBT and Serai Kale Khan, Haryana Emporium; Baba Kharak Singh Marg.One can also hire Tourist cabs/ tourist coaches from Delhi.
Railways:
Delhi is the nearest railway station. One can even reach Faridabad or Gurgaon by train and can hire a cab for traveling to Surajkund the rural ambiance of Surajkund Crafts Mela.
Metro:
Metro services are also available from Central Secretariat till Badarpur via Sarita Vihar and Mohan Estate. Badarpur locality is close to the interstate border between the city of Faridabad and Delhi.