Suraj Kund Handicrafts Mela

During 10th century, there used to be an amphitheatre sunpool in an ancient reservoir called Suraj Kund where a large number of sun worshippers gathered. It was constructed by Suraj Pal, who was the king of Tomar dynasty. Suraj Kund has developed into a suburban retreat over the years. It is also named as the Peacock Lake which is well known for its delightful beauty and due to this, it is a famous tourist destination now. Every year during the month of February, there is a traditional craft festival held in the backdrop of the peacock lake. There are various painters, sculptors, artists and weavers who come from different parts of the country to take part in this celebration every year.

This year the celebration would be named as the Suraj Kund international handicrafts mela. The fair consists of different types of themes each year that are based on Indian art and tradition. The theme is particular to an Indian state which can be seen at the mela entrance. The weeklong fair is witnessed by many craft and art lovers across the world. The theme state for this particular year is Karnataka. The state gets enough space to set up stalls for displaying its craft, art, cuisine and culture. There are over 400 crafts person that will present their finest crafts which is all set to capture the hearts of the visitors. Here one can find the finest of art cultures from Assam, Rajasthan, Bastar and Ladakh. This colorful fair offers great entertainment, fun and a complete shopping experience. The rich flavors and fragrances of the Indian cuisine are sure to tantalize one’s taste buds.

The mela grounds houses over 735 works having various weavers and craftspersons. The uneven paths on the ground make way to many platforms that offer a glimpse of many skilful and exquisite paintings, ivory work, stone work, lac work, pottery, grass work and cane work. The world’s most treasured wares can be purchased by the visitors. There is an outstanding diversity and variety associated with each of these crafts. Apart from this, there are a multitude of folk dancers and dance troupes that showcase their talent. The brilliant folk performances at the natyashala and chaupal add to the entertainment quotient. The craftsperson belonging to the SAARC nations also take part in this fair.

Some countries from Africa namely Zambia, Egypt, guinea, South Africa, Ababa, Congo, Rwanda and Namibia are said to participate as the partner nations in the fair. Also, there are some Eurasian countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan will display their culture and crafts. Some of the themes of the fairs were Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Paschim Bangal. The artists and craft persons from Thailand as well as Peru are said to be a part of this fair.

In order to book a stall, one can fill a form and give it in the Suraj Kund Mela office in the month of January. The stalls sell the crafts as well as allow the people to watch the making of these crafts. Suraj Kund lies at a distance of about 8 kilometers from South Delhi and is connected with railways, airways and roadways. One can board a metro or reach this place by private coaches or taxis. Suraj kund is located at about 25 kms from the Palam airport. Special tours are arranged by the Haryana tourist bureau from Janpath road located in New Delhi.