Chhattisgarh this year has been selected as Theme State for world famous Surajkund Crafts Fair held in Haryana. Chief Secretary (CS) Vivek Dhand on Thursday took a meeting for reviewing preparations of Surajkund Mela which is scheduled from February 1, 2015.
Notably Surajkund Craft fair is organized by the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Culture-Government of India in collaboration with Haryana Tourism, in the month of February, every year. First celebrated in 1981, the fair continues to be a strong platform for skilled artists and craftsmen from abroad to display their skilled crafts and art work derived from their rich culture and tradition.
During the meeting officers informed that 70 weavers and artisans that include Dokra art, terracotta, wooden art, weaver- mural arts have been selected for the International craft fair. Four temporary gates along with a main gate will be erected at the entry point of the fair.
Various food stalls offering Chhattisgarhi foods will be also created. At the Mela site tribal homes would be also constructed. Various cultural events will be held during Mela and wall paintings of different arts in Chhattisgarh will be created on the boundary wall of the Mela premises. A Chhattisgarh pavilion and tourist information centre shall be also established at the craft fair site.
During meeting the CS directed officers to soon complete all preparations related with theme. He directed the team of Director Culture department Rakesh Chaturvedi, Chief Executive Officer Vanausadhi board Pradeep Pant, Director Chhattisgarh Tourism Board Santosh Misra and Asst Prof Drama Dept Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya Khairagarh, Yogendra Choubey to work in coordination and complete the preparations soon.
The Chief Secretary in his earlier meeting to review the preparations for the Surajkund mela had stated that the products manufactured by handicraft, Matikala and handloom groups of Chhattisgarh have performed well in the international crafts exhibitions organized in recent years.
Officials have also been directed to ensure that the State performs better than previous years in this event. In this exhibition, cultural and traditional costumes of Chhattisgarh will be displayed. Moreover, the State Tourism Department will promote the tourist destinations of Chhattisgarh and will also put up a food stall based on Chhattisgarhi cuisine.
In the meeting, it was informed that Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board will look after the theme-based decoration of area allotted at the exhibition venue. The Board, in association with Exhibition Authority, will erect a permanent gate there at the exhibition venue. This gate will symbolize the historical, religious and other important monuments of Chhattisgarh. Handicraft and Matikala Board will select a traditional family of Chhattisgarh for exhibition.
The Chhattisgarh Handloom Development Board will organize a fashion show, based on the theme- handloom, art, culture and traditions of Chhattisgarh. Directorate of Culture will select artists to present the cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh at the international exhibition.
Special cultural performances will be staged on the inaugural and concluding programme of the exhibition. The Directorate of Archaeology will prepare replication of important monuments in Chhattisgarh state. likewise, Forest Department will put up a stall of forest-based medicines.