Surajkund Crafts Mela off to a colourful start

Custom Search

Ny Haryananewswire (Balbir)
CHANDIGARH, FEB 1 Internationally acclaimed annual Surajkund Crafts Mela got off to a colourful start as the Vice President of India, Mohammad Hamid Ansari inaugurated it at Surajkund in district Faridabad on Monday.
While Rajasthan is the theme State this year, apart from SAARC countries, Tajikistan, Egypt and Afghanistan have also put up their stalls in the Mela. More than 400 craftsperson from India, 31 artisans from other countries and hundreds of folk artists and dancers from far flung areas of rural India and dance troupes from Tajikistan, Egypt and Thailand are participating in this year’s mega event.
Accompanied by Union Minister for Tourism, Housing and Poverty Alleviation, Kumari Selja, Haryana Governor, Mr Jagannath Pahadia, Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and Rajasthan Chief Minister, Mr Ashok Gehlot, the Vice President went around the Mela.
Ambassadors of Tajikistan, Egypt and Armenia and Minister Counsellor(Commercial) Thailand were also present.
On his arrival, the Vice President was welcomed at Shekhawati Gate in a traditional manner. Rajasthan being the theme State of this year’s Mela, the Shekhawati Gate was adorned to give a white marble look and the whole passage was made to showcase Ghat ki Ghuni, a popular passage on the Agra – Jaipur road.
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda apprised the Vice President that 23 States of India had joined hands to put up this wonderful handlooms and handicrafts show. Mr Hooda that the Mela has not only promoted various arts and crafts, but has also provided an international market to boost the sale of handicrafts and artifacts.
The Vice President first visited the section displaying crafts from the SAARC nations and Tajikistan, Thailand and Egypt. He evinced keen interest in the items displayed there. He applauded the efforts made by Surajkund Mela Authority in organising the Mela and providing a common platform to the artisans of various countries and regions of India. Mr Ansari also visited the stalls of the theme State of Rajasthan. At Shilpi Sangner stall, Mr Ansari was presented with a shawl and a muffler. He was also warmly welcomed at the handlooms and handicrafts stall of National Awardee Gopal Prasad Sharma and Bagru Print stall of Padmashri Ram Kishore Chhipa.
Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda was presented with a gown and a cap at the Tajikistan stall.
Before reaching the Chaupal, the venue of the function, Mr Ansari also visited Apna Ghar and other stalls of different States. At the Chaupal, besides the traditional welcome for the dignitaries, there was also a show of colourful dances by various dance troupes.
Rajasthan’s dance in traditional costumes with song and music, Tajikistan’s ‘taji’ dance, Haryana’s ‘Phagun’ folk dance and Thailand’s traditional dance delighted the dignitaries and others present on this occasion.
After the cultural performances, the Vice President, Chief Ministers
of Haryana and Rajasthan, Union Minister, Kumari Selja and other Ministers from Haryana and Rajasthan were presented with mementoes.
During this 15-day Mela, there will be cultural programmes every evening by different States. There will also be a number of competitions like painting, kite flying, Rangoli, Mehndi and photography to encourage participation of students of various schools and colleges.
The prominent dignitaries present on the occasion included Haryana Power Minister Mr Mahendra Pratap Singh, Haryana Transport and Tourism Minister Mr O. P. Jain, Haryana Revenue Minister Mr Shiv Charan Sharma, Haryana Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Ms Sharda Rathore, Member of Parliament, Mr Avtar Singh Bhadana, MLAs Mr Anand Kaushik and Mr Raghubir Tewtia, Rajasthan Tourism Minister Mr Rajendar Singh
Guda, senior officers of Government of India, Haryana and Rajasthan including Secretary Tourism, Government of India and Chairman, Surajkund Mela Authority, Mr Sujit Banerjee, Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Tourism, Mr Sanjay Kothari, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Haryana Mr Chhatar Singh, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Tourism Haryana Mrs Keshni Anand Arora,
Commissioner Gurgaon Division Mr T. K. Sharma, Managing Director of Haryana Tourism Corporation Mr S. N. Roy, DGP Haryana, Mr Ranjeev Dalal, DC Faridabad Mr Parveen Kumar, Rajasthan Tourism Secretary Mrs Usha Sharma.