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Celebrating the best Indian folk traditions and culture, the Surajkund International Crafts Mela is a superb place to check out the country's finest handicrafts and diverse artistry.
Every year in February, the highly acclaimed Surajkund International Crafts Mela is held at Surajkund, in Haryana. The atmosphere at the fair comes alive with vibrant colours, rhythmic drum beats, and folk music, creating a festive ambience. All around, there are happy faces who seem eager to spend the day at the Surajkund fair.
The fair usually runs for a fortnight from 1st February, showcasing India’s regional and international handicrafts and handlooms. The event is a celebration of various folk traditions, music and dance, as well as our cultural heritage. The entry gates are made and decorated with plain mud, attesting to the rural atmosphere of the mela (fair). The thatched rooftop structures and shady trees complete the rural look, adding to the lovely rustic setting.
As one of the largest annual crafts fairs, the mela is organised in collaboration with the state and the central governments every year. The Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism are the main organisers, with support from the Tourism, Textiles Ministry, Culture and External Affairs ministries. It has become a symbol of pride for India, attracting a footfall of over a million visitors every year.
While visiting the mela, you can enjoy a cultural evening with live performances by national and international folk artists and cultural groups. To top it all, the food court here has various traditional and authentic food outlets serving the best of Indian cuisine.
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In 1987, a small visionary idea to promote lesser-known crafts, handicrafts and handlooms of India gave birth to the Surajkund Crafts Mela. The annual event is held at the ancient reservoir of Surajkund which was built in the 10th century. The mela premises is located 40 km from Delhi, on the Southern Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli Range, in Faridabad, Haryana.
The word 'Surajkund' means ‘Lake of the Sun’ and is an ancient artificial kund (lake or reservoir). King Surajpal of the Tomara Dynasty built it at the foot of the Aravalli hills in the shape of the rising sun. The steep embankment made in a semi-circular shape at Surajkund is the site for Surajkund International Craft Mela.
The mela is held on 40 acres of land within the confines of Surajkund, with around 1,010 work huts built to host artisans, weavers, and performers. Other structures on the grounds include chaupals and natyashala (open-air theatres). There are also areas marked out for amusement, adventure sports, and joy rides.
Upon entering the premises of the Surajkund International Craft Mela, you will be greeted with a kaleidoscope of India’s rich cultural heritage and diverse traditions. From artisans creating unique handicrafts to colourful fabrics on the handlooms and intricate paintings, the mela is a feast of the senses.
At the chaupals, you can enjoy folk performances by several famous national and international folk artists, as well as cultural groups. Additionally, various youth groups perform various skits or street plays addressing social issues. Meanwhile, at the natyashala, musicians from several states play traditional music from different regions of the country, creating a beautiful ambience.
The Surajkund Mela gives special recognition to one Indian state every year as the Theme State of the Year. This is a unique opportunity for the chosen state to highlight its art, craft, culture, cuisine, and tourist potential to the world. The promotion includes showcasing the state's handicrafts, handlooms, architecture, and performing arts at the mela.
Surajkund Crafts Mela turned global in 2013 and each year a partner nation is chosen to promote cultural exchange and cooperation. In 2023, the partner country was the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Visitors also had a glimpse into the culture, handicrafts, and performing arts of other countries, including Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Uzbekistan Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey. Past partner nations include Thailand, France, Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Argentina, Bhutan, Egypt, and Peru.
The Surajkund International Crafts Mela offers a great shopping experience. Here, you can purchase traditional crafts from across India directly from artisans who make and exhibit them. It is a great opportunity for over a million visitors from across the world to buy authentic handicrafts in a typical rural Indian marketplace setting.
For shopaholics. the mela offers a superb opportunity to buy these goods at a relatively reasonable price compared to the markets. You can buy handicrafts, textiles, carpets, wall hangings, and items made from wood, ivory, stonework, lacquerware, cane, and grass here. Look out for fragrant soaps, organically grown spices, pottery, food items, naturally made cosmetics, brass ornaments, earthenware, crockery, and bamboo work as well.
The Surajkund International Crafts Mela offers a diverse range of traditional food options, making it an ideal place for food enthusiasts. The food stalls here serve traditional delicacies from different states in an authentic rural style, that is on banana leaves and in clay pots.
During the Mela, the cuisine also gets a festive flavour, with various food items being celebrated. In 2023, which is the International Year of Millets, the festival offered interesting millet-based recipes at the stalls.
One of the highlights of the mela is the opportunity to indulge in delicious foods from across the states. You can feast on popular favourites, such as begun bhaja from Kolkata, sarso da saag from Punjab, litti chokha from Bihar, sambhar vada from Tamil Nadu, dum aloo from Kashmir, momos and thukpa from Nagaland and much more.
During my visit to the mela, I feasted on my favourites: Rajasthani pyaz kachori, Gujarati dabeli, and mawa kachori for dessert. After this meal, I enjoyed drinking kulhad masala chai. My colleagues decided to go for a cold beverage and picked soda and shikanji to quench their thirst. There are also health-friendly options, such as fresh coconut water, at West Bengal and Maharashtra food stalls.
The entry ticket price for visiting on a weekday is Rs. 120 and Rs. 180 on weekends. Senior citizens, students, and Army personnel can avail of a 50% discount on the tickets. The mela is open from 10:30 am to 8:30 pm. Golf carts and e-rickshaws (battery-operated) are made available to assist senior citizens and differently-abled persons.
Surajkund International Crafts Mela is a must-visit for anyone who wants to experience India's rich culture and heritage. From diverse handicrafts and delicious food and drink to live music, dance, and theatre performances, the mela makes for an unforgettable experience.
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