Surajkund mela to have thai flavour

Chandigarh, Jan 22 (UNI) The 21st Surajkund Crafts Mela, to be held from February 1 to 15, will feature folk dances and cuisines of Thailand and SAARC countries besides showcasing Indian handicrafts and culture.

Andhra Pradesh will be the theme state of this year's mela to be held at Surajkund in Faridabad district, Haryana Minister of State for Tourism Kiran Choudhry said today.

Ms Choudhry said the mela had now become an internationally recognised event that showcased the finest handlooms and handicrafts of India.

She said the main highlights would be participation of craftsmen and folk artistes in large number from Thailand and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

Designer's workshop, Exporter-Craftsman meets, Kite Flying competition, Photography competition and Painting competition would be the other attractive features.

Ms Choudhry said artistes of Zonal cultural centres, eminent artistes of classical Indian dance, music and theatre would perform during the mela.

Jugglers, drummers, puppet showmen and folk dancers would also perform on the small stages set up within the mela premises at the 'Chaupal'. Evenings would be reserved for folk dances and music at the open air theatre 'Natyashala', she added.

The Minister said over 400 state and national award winning craftsmen from all over the country would participate in the mela.

The annual fair is organised by the Surajkund Mela Authority and the Department of Tourism of the Union Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Union Ministry of Textile.

UNI