To cope with the increasing footfalls due to the growing popularity of the famous annual Surajkund International Crafts Mela, Haryana Government is working on its expansion plan.
Announcing this, Chief Minister Manohar lal, after inaugurating Haryana’s Swarna Jayanti 31st Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Faridabad said that people come here from all over the world and it is turning out to be best platform for reducing distances.
Telangana, which is a partner state of Haryana under the ‘Ek Bharat-Shresth Bharat’ Programme, launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is the partner state in the Surajkund Mela.
Welcoming the artisans, craftsmen and weavers of theme state Jharkhand, the Chief Minister said that Jharkhand, which is blessed with nature, also has rich resources of minerals. "I would definitely visit Jharkhand this year," he added.
More than 20 countries from Europe, Africa and South Asia are also participating in the Mela and Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Tunisia, Mongolia, South Africa are participating for the first time in the fortnight long event.
Congratulating the artists who had came from 23 countries, Manohar lal said the Mela would also provide a platform for the exchange of art as well as an opportunity to learn and understand each other.
last year, 17 lakh people had visited the Mela. It has now been spread over additional three acres of land this year, and more than 1,000 stalls have been set up against 850 last year, he said.
Manohar lal said ,”The State Government is observing this year as the swarna jayanti year and government's efforts must be further supplemented by organizing various programmes. This year, Gita Jayanti was observed at international level. Maati Kala Board has been constituted and the state’s own film policy is being framed to promote art and culture, he informed.
As many as 48 religious places are being developed as a part of the Krishna Circuit at a cost of Rs 175 crore, said he.
The Chief Minister also purchased a shawl from the stall of Nepal, and a hand-made portrait of the Prime Minister and his own from the Sri lanka stall by using Mobik wik App and POS system. He also visited the stall of partner country Egypt where Ambassador of Egypt to India, Hatem Tageldin welcomed him.