Start this February with the ultra-festive Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Faridabad, Haryana. From 1st to 19th February, the Mela, organised by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in collaboration with the Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs, will be in full swing.
The fair is held around an actual lake, the Suraj Kund, or the lake of the sun, is a few kilometres out of New Delhi and is located amid the Aravalli range. It is said to have been commissioned in the 10th century by king Suraj Pal Tomar. Some ruins of the sun temple, also commissioned by the same king, can be seen on the lake's western bank.
The expansive fair showcases India's handicrafts, handlooms and cultural diversity, with more than a million visitors thronging it, including thousands of foreign tourists. Many famous national and international folk artists and cultural groups present day performances at the chaupal or open-air public gatherings, which are converted to open-to-sky theatres for the duration of the fair.
All the handicrafts and handlooms on exhibition and sale are handmade, and machine-made goods are not included in the selections. You can pick up bags full of exquisite products, such as handlooms, paintings, wood stock, terracotta pottery, stonework, and cane and grass products, from the section earmarked for showcasing heritage crafts.
The Mela was first held in 1987 and was a local affair however, down the years, it has accumulated much national and international acclaim. This is due to the master craftspersons from various disciplines, from all over the country, who arrive here to showcase their crafts which have a generations-old history.
The Information
What Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2023.
When 3rd to 19th February.
Where Suraj Kund, Faridabad, Haryana.
How to get there
Surajkund International Crafts Mela is 23 kilometres from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. The city of New Delhi is well connected to the rest of the country and the world.
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