Crafts from Goa are the highlight of the ongoing Surajkund Mela. Neeti Nigam spots traditional gems at the fair
Rafeal Pareiera is so engrossed in playing drums that he doesn’t take note of crowd assembling around him. He is part of Goa-based band called Brass that has come all the way to Surajkund Mela. While girls are dancing, some guests request them to sing O Maria from Saagar. They smile and oblige.
With Goa as the theme state, there are colours, energy and vibrancy in the entire zone. The symbolic designs of sun, shells, sea waves and water-sports at the entrance unfold the Goan magic. The ambience is lovely.
If you are lucky you can witness the Goa’s famous Carnival’s performance. The artistes dressed in traditional Konkan and Portuguese costumes will steal your heart.
Art for all
While clothes and bags with floral prints aren’t enough to pull crowd, souvenirs made of shells and terracotta are finding buyers. What stands apart are items made of coconut shell — like a monkey, candle stand and coconut huts. For the past 27 years, the fair has managed to bring popular Indian art and craft under one roof. Some stalls are even put up by national awardees. One such is by an old woman, lajwanti from Patiala. She’s busy with her embroidery and as we ask her the price of a khadi suit with phulkari work, she says, “Final price is Rs 600. People don’t understand our handwork. A lot of effort goes into making each piece. Around 500 people work under me. How on earth will they manage their familiesIJ This way youth will lose interest in phulkari.”
Most visitors hang around stalls of Punjab, Himachal, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Kullu and Kinnauri shawls, Banarasi and Kantha work saris are selling. Jagat Ram from Himachal Pradesh’s stall says, “People are bored of same designs. So we have started experimenting with colours and have brought new patterns, not compromising with the traditional work that we are known for,” says Jagat Ram. The range of the woollens starts from Rs 950 to 30,000.
Hit list
A young boy literally forces his mother to buy wooden toys stall from the stall of Channapatna, Karnataka. Stalls from North Eastern states and Rajasthan are also doing good business. Women are loving hasli (a form of necklace).
Food fiesta
From the dal baati, Mughlai to Punjabi, there is an array of regional food. A humble old couple, Chrys and Cres Fernandes, sitting at the Goa stall have brought Goan delicacies to the fair.
photos Pankaj Kumar