Visitors at Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Haryana are having gala time with the traditional music and dances of Chhattisgarh in every nook and corner of the fair venue. Folk artistes of Chhattisgarh have been performing traditional folk dance such as ‘Geri dance’, Panthi dance, and Sua dance at various spots in the mela venue.
Bright costumes and vibrant beats of these dance forms are catching the eyeballs of almost every visitor. Chhattisgarh Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Additional Chief Secretary M K Raut visited the venue and inspected the stalls put up by the State’s craftsmen. He met the local artistes and craftsmen and appreciated their work. later in the evening, he attended cultural programmes held in the ‘Chaupal’ and enjoyed performances by artistes from across the globe. Panchayat Department Secretary P C Mishra, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board Managing Director Santosh Kumar Misra also attended the cultural event.
Meanwhile, ‘Apna Ghar’ of Chhattisgarh is attracting a lot of curious onlookers at the Surajkund International Crafts Mela. It is the exact replica of the Rajvaar Adivasis’ houses of Surguja district in Chhattisgarh. How the Adivasis live in the houses with their traditional life-style, handicrafts made of mud, was depicted at the Surajkund Mela.
The women of the State since times immemorial make mud handicrafts. late Sona Bhai Rajvaar Adivasi was world-renowned as mud craftsperson. Chief Minister Raman Singh and Haryana Chief Minister Manoharlal Khattar jointly inaugurated the ‘Apna Ghar’ on the first day of the mela. Chhattisgarh is the ‘Theme State’ of the mela this time round. The State will showcase its handicrafts, traditional art and culture. About 100 stalls are exclusively for craftsmen of Chhattisgarh.
lebanon is the co-partner nation in organising the mela. Craftsmen from over 18 countries are participating 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 is also showcasing bamboo art and huts of tribal people decorated with paintings. Over 15 artists from Raipur and Durg had worked to gave 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, they stated.
Domestic and foreign visitors to the forthcoming ‘Surajkund International Crafts Mela’ in Haryana are getting an opportunity to savour Chhattisgarhi cuisine in a food stall established by the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board (CTB) at the venue. The CTB is also showcasing the cultural and traditional cuisines of the State. The Chhattisgarh Handicrafts Development Board in association with the Exhibition Authority has erected a permanent gate at the venue.