The fortnight-long Surajkund International Crafts Mela kick-started on February 1, with Chattisgarh as its theme state and Lebanon, the partner nation.
Craft-persons, cultural troupes and master chefs have come from across the country to enthrall the visitors with their talents and skills.
Jointly organized by Surajkund Mela Authority, Haryana Govt. and Haryana Tourism Corporation, the 29th Crafts Mela is all about the tribal heritage and culture of Chattisgarh.
The soothing atmosphere with folk tunes playing all around, alluring decorations, niche art, handicraft excellence and diverse crowd is something that makes this mela irresistible.
The whole fair has a vibrant flavor of Chhattisgarh, from their Terracotta art, which is a specialty of the Raigarh, Mandia and Bastar regions of Chhattisgarh to various other cultural attractions in art, painting, music, sculpture, handicrafts, architecture and archaeology.
Traditional tribal accessories like bracelets, anklets, headgears wooed the urban people a lot. Bhenki Bai from Bastar (Chattisgarh), who has received state award from CM Raman Singh for her excellent handicraft skills, had put the art pieces on her stall.
“People are coming here to see my work but there is more of window shopping then the actual buying,” she said.
Apart from Chattisgarh, there is incredible representation of craftsmen from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Kashmir.
Items like Bamboo products, paintings, artificial flowers, yak wool shawls, kolhapuri chappals, cutlery and metal jewelry were some of the highly demanded products at the fiesta.
“It takes around one month to prepare for the Surajkund mela. Customers here prefer smaller paintings so we decide & design our stock accordingly,” said a stone dust painter Suraj, who is a localite and partici[pates in the mela every year.
Whereas Leather puppet artist Mr. S. Chitahambara Rao has come all the way from Andhra Pradesh to showcase his magnificent art at Surajkund.
“I do puppet shows in Andhra which are very much liked by the people. Since, 40 years I am in this line and this is my passion, says Rao who received national award in 2003 from President APJ Abdul Kalam for his incredible art.
His wife, who is also a state awardee helps him in preparing beautiful leather puppets of hindu gods, birds, wall hangings, lampshades wind chimes from leather, a thing of attraction for people coming there.
Amid the hustle and bustle of mela, there are two women entrepreneurs who are worth mentioning. Divya Rani Singh, from Bihar, prepares jewelry from the jute fibre along with a group of 16 women.
She has put earrings, necklaces, dolls, flower pots, key rings, wall hangings and showpieces ranging from Rs 20 to Rs 250 for sale on the stall.
“This is my first experience at Surajkund and I am enjoying it to the core,” she said.
While Kamini Kaushal, hailing from Madhubani, is a trained paper machie artist who along with a group of women, utilizes waste paper material to make beautiful paintings, show pieces, tea mats, toys, etc. She has received Kalandhi award in past for excellence in paper art.
“I give training to fashion designing students in Mumbai, even foreigners are keen to learn this traditional art of paper mashie. My artwork is exported to America in the Christmas season,” said Kamini.
Throughout the day, the Surajkund Chaupal was packed to its capacity with people enjoying spectacular performances of dance troupes presenting unique art forms from various parts of the country.
Besides festivity and enjoyment, there are people who are executing social responsibility, making ‘Surajkund' a one of its kind fair.
A lady named Monica Sharma is promoting ‘Swachch Bharat Abhiyan' by creating awareness regarding garbage management at the Surajkund.
“We collect fresh bio-degradable waste (leaves, fruit leftovers) from the mela campus and put inside the earthen pots for the decomposition. If PM himself can do it, why can't we. People have to come forward to make India a clean country.”
A group from ‘Brahma Kumaris', a spiritual organization, is also playing their part by helping the alcoholics and drug addicts to get rid from the deadly addiction.
