WEEKEND pulls huge crowds to Surajkund Mela

Faridabad / Jalandhar, February 9, 2013: The sound of laughter reverberated in the 27th Surajkund International Crafts Mela at Natyashala, the open air theatre, on Friday evening, which was packed to a capacity audience for the Hasya Kavi Sammelan. Stand up comedians -- Pratap Singh Faujdar, Yousuf Bhardwaj, Deepak Saini, Sambhu Shikhar, Abdul Ayub Gauri and Mahendra Ajnabi teamed up with Dinesh Raghuvanshi to create some of the ‘laugh till you drop’ moments. Their witty, intelligent and satirical wisecracks were highly applauded by the audience.

The bustling weekend at the Mela brought smiles on the faces of the craftspersons, who are enthusiastically displaying their art and crafts and the visitors are more than happy to buy their unique crafts. On Chaupal, new performances are being staged by foreign troupes from Guinea, Tunisia and Sri Lanka, who have just joined in and are presenting colourful performances.

Saturday also marked the Karnataka day, which witnessed cultural programmes of the theme state at Chaupal. The major highlight of the day was the fashion show staged in the evening opposite Hotel Rajhans by Prasad Bidappa, an ace choreographer-cum-fashion designer of Karnataka. The scintillating show featured the splendour of the Karnataka silk and handlooms.

Lot of curious onlookers were seen at the state’s Apna Ghar, which showcases the lifestyle, household items and décor of a Kodava home. Kodavas inhabit the Kodagu region in southern Karnataka. Also the history of the state has been encapsulated in the photography exhibition and a replica of the coach of Golden Chariot, a luxury tourist train that connects the important tourist spots in the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa. It is named after the Stone Chariot in the Vitthala Temple at Hampi. A stall has been dedicated to display the fruits and vegetables grown in different regions of Karnataka.

The dignitaries who visited the Mela on Saturday, included Justice P. Sathasivam, judge of Supreme Court; Chief Justice A.K. Sikri, Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice S.K. Mittal, Punjab and Haryana High Court; Shri Chattar Singh, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister; Shri Yudhbir Singh Malik, Principal Secretary, Haryana and Prof. Virender Singh, Political Advisor to Haryana Chief Minister, among others.

The visitors seemed to enjoy shaking a leg with the day performers and taking rides in the battery operated carts. The footfall on Saturday was over 50,000 and the overall number is expected to reach well above the last year’s number. All the parking lots were full of vehicles and every inch in the Mela ground was flooded with the visitors.

Many foreigners are making to the Mela till date and a large number are anticipated in the coming days. Photographer Adriana from Brazil stated that this was her first visit to India and Surajkund Mela has brought her face-to-face with the potpourri of cultures and flamboyant colours of India.

(photo-caption: Hsya Kavi Sammelan)