50,000 people visit Surajkund mela on concluding day

Surajkund, Faridabad, Feb 15 (UNI) The 15-day 21st Surajkund crafts mela came to a close today amid great pomp and ceremony, a cultural show by folk artiste and prize distribution by Haryana Governor A R Kidwai.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Governor said, " these kinds of melas should be organised frequently as they encourage crafts peopele and artisans from far flung areas and sleepy villages." "This mela helped people from SAARC nations and South East Asian Countries to come together as artistes from these lands participated in the mela for the first time and explored the Indian culture." More than 4 lakh people, including 10,000 foreign visitors, visited the mela during the fortnight, in which 350 crafts people from across the country dispalyed their exhibits.

Haryana tourism minister Kiran Choudhary, who was also present on the occasion, lauded the efforts of the theme state Andhra Pradesh for the successful organisation of the mela, saying, " this is for the second time that the southern state has been the theme state of the mela and it has been a great and memorable association." "The mela has carved a niche for itself over the year and now it has become a major event on the national and international calendar," she added.

UNI