Shikaras adorn Surajkund this year
By Tripti Nath

THE Surajkund Crafts Mela hosted by Haryana Tourism has made a comfortable entry into its teens. For 13 years now, the Haryana Government has kept its promise of offering a fun-filled and fruitful fortnight in February to tourists, craftspersons, performers and artists. Art, crafts and cuisine from various parts of the country find a deserving slot in the mela held under the aegis of the Mela Authority comprising the Ministry of Tourism and the Department of Handicrafts and Handlooms.

The fair provides both celebrated and unsung craftspersons and artistes an opportunity to display and demonstrate their crafts. They acknowledge participation in the mela as an enriching experience. Little wonder then that Haryana Tourism currently has 200 pending applications from aspiring craftspersons.

The craftspersons are selected by Development Commissioners of the Department of Handloom and Handicrafts and invited by Haryana Tourism.

The Administrative Officer of Haryana Tourism, Leela Dhar, said the Ministry of Textiles invites craftspersons through its extension counters in various regional offices. The applications are screened there and the ministry has a procedure whereby its officials visit the working sites of the craftspersons in their native places. After this, the artisans are registered and issued identity cards, and their names are recommended to the Mela Authority. To some extent, the decision of the Ministry of Textiles is final.

The Managing Director of Haryana Tourism said that three lakh persons visit the mela every year. Apart from this, about 10,000 foreign tourists visit the fair annually. The number could be more as it does not include pass-holders and schoolchildren in uniform who enjoy the previlege of a free entry. While children can gain entry by paying Rs 5, adults have to pay Rs 10 for the ticket. On weekends, however, one has to pay double the price. This time, the organisers have revised re-entry rules and a ticket holder can enter the mela grounds again only from a particular gate.

The Surakjund fair is listed as an important engagement in the international calendar of trade events. Spread over 26 acres, every nook and corner of the ground glows with folk colours. The mela village is embellished with mud huts, a well, a temple structure and a platform where artistes give performances. The meandering waterway, kiker trees, mounds and the cluster of huts — all contribute to the ambience of the mela.

Every year, a particular state is projected as the ‘theme’of the fair. So far the ‘theme states’ included Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh.

The idea of a crafts mela was conceived in 1987. Two years later, a decision was made to have a theme state to facilitate cultural interaction with that state. Replicas of the Ram Bagh Palace Gate of Punjab, Maheshwar Devta Temple of Himachal Pradesh, Char Minar of Hyderabad have been constructed as commemorative structures and have become a permanent feature of the mela grounds. This year, the replica of the Khanqah-i-Mullah, the shrine of Shah-i-Hamdan in Srinagar has been created as a commemorative structure.

A novel feature of the 14th mela are shikaras that have been brought all the way from Jammu and Kashmir. Pervez Dewan, Secretary, J&K Tourism, even hinted that they could leave the shikaras at Surajkund if Haryana Tourism so desired. Five shikaras adorned with flowers are ferrying visitors in Peacock Lake near Hotel Raj Hans in Surajkund.

The crafts on display at the mela include papier mache articles, locally known as kari kamandari and willow work. Apart from this, Jamawar, Bashnoi and angora shawls, Kashmiri carpets, silver and bead jewellery and Thanka paintings and masks from Ladakh are also on sale at the fair. One can also buy Chanderi sarees, Khurja pottery, Gujarati shawls, Phulkari work and a wide range of other crafts.

A painters’ workshop is also being held at the mela. The curator of the camp, Naresh Kapuria, said 22 artists and sculptors are participating.

The fair is a non-profit venture, claim the organisers. Its main objective is to promote languishing crafts and enable craftspersons sell their crafts directly. This year, 366 craftspersons have been invited to the mela. Of these, 60 are master craftspersons and 41 are recipients of state awards. There are 66 craftspersons from Jammu and Kashmir. Five languishing crafts on display are Warli paintings from Maharshtra, costume jewellery from Orissa, wooden lacquerware from Punjab, Pithora paintings from Gujarat and Mandna paintings from Madhya Pradesh.

The craftspersons are provided working huts and accommodation free of cost, and food at subsidised rates. Those who wish to cook their own meals can buy daily provisions from the ration shop at the venue.

Sources in Haryana Tourism say the cost of the mela is borne by the Surajkund Mela Authority, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Textiles. The organisers meet the expenditure through the tickets and partly through payments made for stalls by companies.

Although Surajkund is 8 km from South Delhi, distance is not really a handicap for visitors who can avail themselves of special bus services linking the mela to main bus stops in the Capital and Gurgaon and Faridabad.

The event is so colourful and enriching that many tourists visit it year after year. Monica Franklin, a Chandigarh based entrepreneur, is visiting the mela again after two years. Accompanied by her sister, Lea Vandenberg from England, Monica described the fair as "a very well presented exposition of what India does so well." Monica is looking foward to buying papier-mache decoration items. Her sister Lea said it was great to find crafts from all over India at the mela, especially if one has not travelled throughout the country.

Kyong Hee Won, a tourist from South Korea, put her hands before a mehandi artist from Rajasthan and wanted to know how long the henna pattern would last. Won said she would try Indian food at the stalls.

Apart from a celebration of crafts, the mela offers glimpses of folk dances and songs from all over the country. These include Chakri, Rauf and Hafiz Nagma dances from Kashmir, and Kud, Jagarna and Geetru dances from Jammu. At the fan-shaped, open-air-theatre called Naytashala, one can enjoy folk dances throughout the fortnight.

The Mela Authority introduces visitors to the cuisine of the theme state. The famous Wazwan cuisine comprising 10 non-vegetarian delicacies and aromatic foods is being served at the mela.

And, most important of all, the curtains come down with an award presentation function. These craftspersons are honoured with Kala Nidhi, Kala Sri and Kala Mani awards.