The acclaimed calendar event of Haryana Tourism, the 29th Surajkund
International Crafts Mela, will be celebrated from 1st-15th February 2015 at Surajkund, Faridabad.
The Mela showcases the richness and diversity of the handicrafts, handlooms and the cultural heritage of India. The idea of hosting the Mela is to recreate a pristine rural ambience for foreign and domestic
tourists, tell the patrons of arts and crafts of the skills involved in creative arts,
to introduce craftspersons directly to the buyers, and to identify, nurture and
preserve the languishing crafts of the country.
It is jointly hosted by Haryana Tourism Corporation and Surajkund Mela
Authority in collaboration with the Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles,
Culture and External Affairs. This festival has come to occupy a place of pride
and prominence, attracting more than a million domestic and foreign visitors
during the Mela fortnight.
Uniqueness of the Mela is that one of the Indian states gets the honour to
occupy the position of the Theme State each year. The Theme State was
conceptualized broadly with a view to promote and focus the art, craft and
cuisine of each state of India every year.
Mrs Sumita Misra, Managing Director, Haryana Tourism Corporation,
informed that Chhattisgarh has been chosen as the Theme State for the
29th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2015. The Mela provides a rare
opportunity to the Theme State to showcase its handicrafts, handlooms,
performing arts, cuisine and its tourist potential to a vast cross-section
of people.
Chhattisgarh will showcase its tribal heritage and culture, which is still
found well-preserved in the forests of Bastar. The skilled craftspersons, talented
artistes and master chefs from the state will participate in the Mela. Also, an
ethnic ambience representing the state’s rural ethos will be created on the Mela
grounds.
The Mela has grown in stature and it attained an international status in
2013 and is now attracting more and more foreign participation. Every year, a
country is also chosen to be the Partner Nation that showcases the best of its art,
culture, traditions and heritage during the Mela fortnight.
Mrs Misra further disclosed that Lebanon will be the Partner Nation for
the 29th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2015. The craftspersons, cultural
troupes and master chefs from the Mediterranean nation will present their talent
and skills to enthrall the visitors at the forthcoming Mela. About 20 countries
have already been confirmed for participation in the Surajkund International
Crafts Mela-2015.
For the first time in 2009, Egypt became the Focus Nation and the idea of
introducing a country/nation as a Partner Nation was mooted. Thailand was
introduced as the first Partner Nation during the 26
th Surajkund Crafts Mela-2012. Later, African Nations participated as Partner Nations in the 27th
Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2013 and Sri Lanka was chosen as Partner
Nation for 28th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2014.
The Theme State and Partner Nation indeed lend a special appeal to the
Mela complimenting the Indian culture and leads to the confluence of various
nations.
