Faridabad NCR
The wait is finally over for the fans and patrons of Surajkund Mela
Faridabad Hindustan ab tak/Dinesh Bhardwaj : A sea of visitors descended on the 35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela on a fine Sunday morning. Despite the rising temperatures the spirit of the visitors was not dampened as they were looking forward to immerse themselves in a world of crafts, handicrafts and handlooms from across the world. The drumbeats, Nagada rhythm and folksy tunes welcomed the visitors and set the tone for a fine cultural experience. The atmosphere took a vibrant hue as the day progressed.
Saturday evening saw a glittery inaugural ceremony where Shri. Bandaru Dattatraya, Hon’ble Governor of Haryana formally inaugurated the 35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2022 and Shri Manohar Lal, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Haryana presided over the inaugural ceremony in the august presence of many other dignitaries
A number of cultural performances throughout the day by various folk artists enthralled the audience. The performances included Jhamkada and Kangri Nati from Himachal Pradesh, Dangi from Gujarat, Bihu from Assam and Lok Niritya from Haryana. Meanwhile, the theme state Jammu and Kashmir presented their colourful dance forms and captured the hearts of the audience with is simplicity and poetic dance moves.
The foreign nations like Sudan, Nigeria too set the stage on fire with their thrilling and foot tapping performances. Uzbekistan – the Partner Nation for this year’s edition of the Mela presented the colours of central Asia with Lazgi dance.
The meandering lanes with thatched roofed stalls slowly opened up the magic of handicrafts and handlooms for the world to see. From handmade carpets, banarsi saris, pottery, to handlooms from various states of India, there is a plethora of traditional creations waiting for craft enthusiasts to fill their shopping bags.
The evening cultural shows which are also the soul of the Surajkund Mela kick started with a brilliant sufi oriented performance by Rehmat-e-Nusrat – a group of young musicians from Uttarakhand who brought a fresh new perspective to the timeless tradition of qawwali music. The group presented famous qawwalis, Sufiyana kalaams by the great poets and other original compositions.
The raw power of the punchy vocals, sprinkled with a silken touch could be felt in the minds and hearts of the mesmerised audience. These Sufiana qalaams, makes one shake one’s head in wonder. The audience could not break away from the magnetic charm, the absolute power of the music that came from the very depths of their sheer talent
Mark your date for next scintillating performance by Yasmin – the world renowned Kathak dancer and Anirudh Verma Collective – a collaborative project, bringing artists and musicians of diverse musical and cultural backgrounds together to form a unique musical identity.
The Mela will remain open to public from 12.30 – 9.30 daily from 19th March to 04 April, 2022.
