Chief Minister Raman Singh will be the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the 29th Surajkund International Crafts Mela to be held at Faridabad in Haryana on Sunday. Haryana Chief Minister Manoharlal Khattar will inaugurate the International Crafts Mela. Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture (Independent Charge) Dr Mahesh Sharma and Chhattisgarh Tourism and Cultural Minister Ajay Chandrakar will be the special guests.
Chhattisgarh is the ‘Theme State’ of the mela this time around. The State will showcase its handicrafts, traditional art and culture. About 100 stalls would be exclusively for the craftsmen of Chhattisgarh. lebanon is the co-partner nation in organising the mela. Craftsmen from over 18 countries are taking take part in the mela. There are 766 stalls like ‘work huts’ for craftsmen.
Fifty stalls are for handloom products, 36 dedicated to dress material made up of Kosha silk and 17 stalls to ‘Mati Kala Board’ for terracota clay products. The venue has been decorated with walls carrying the famous ‘Godna’ painting of Chhattisgarh. Replicas of lord Ganesha Temple at Barsoor in Dantewada district and ‘Rudra Shiva’ of Tala, Bilaspur district will attract a large number of curious onlookers.
Surajkhund derives its name from the ancient amphiteatre ‘Sunpool’ constructed here in the 10th century A.D. by Raja Suraj Pal. More than 300 artists from the remote areas of Chhattisgarh worked day and night to bring alive the culture and tradition of the State in Surajkund Mela, officials stated. Apart from the famous Dhokra art depicted at the Chhattisgarh gate, the visitors will also have a glimpse of ‘Madai mela’ and ‘Haat Bazaar’ of Chhattisgarh.
The mela ground will also showcase bamboo art and huts of tribal people decorated with paintings. Over 15 artists from Raipur and Durg had worked to give a final touch to the depiction of Madai Mela. The artists have also depicted the famous ‘Gaydi dance’ of Chhattisgarh on the walls of the venue. The artists have been working hard to create an ethnic ambience representing the rural ethos of the State at the mela ground.
Domestic and foreign visitors to the forthcoming ‘Surajkund International Crafts Mela’ in Haryana would also get an opportunity to savour Chhattisgarhi cuisine in a food stall to be established by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB). Moreover, besides promoting the various tourist destinations of Chhattisgarh, the CTB would also showcase the cultural and traditional cuisines of the State.
The Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board in association with the authority concerned for the exhibition has erected a permanent gate at the venue. This gate symbolises the historical, religious and other important monuments of Chhattisgarh.