ShashwatIndia is a country full of diverse cultures, colors and hardworking craftsmen and artists. The Surajkund Mela 2022 will be the 35th International Crafts Mela held for showcasing the arts and crafts of these men from different corners of the nation.
Today, we talk about all the major things you need to know about this incredible fair taking place from 19th March 2022 onwards and why you should be excited about it!
Let’s Begin!
Table of Contents
What is Surajkund Mela 2022? Why is it so famous?
Known as the largest crafts fair in the world, the Surajkund International Crafts Mela is a cultural extravaganza held annually in the town of Surajkund, Faridabad district, Haryana, India.
The fair is named after the Surajkund reservoir nearby. It is one of the most important tourist events in India and attracts foreign visitors as well.
The mela was started in 1981 by then-Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal to promote traditional handicrafts from all over the country.
Surajkund Mela is an interesting cultural fair showcasing the unique handicrafts, interesting handlooms and other crafts from different states of India. Every year, there is a theme state chosen for this fair from where craftsmen are invited to showcase their talent and feature their craft to the entire world.
At least 20 different countries and all the states of India take part in such a large scale event every year.
This year, the chosen theme state is Jammu & Kashmir – one of the most incredible snow places in India. J&K is as much a state of beauty and interesting landscapes as much as it is artistic. One can see and indulge in the folk dances and cultural performances from the state when visiting the Mela this year.
The pashmina shawl is a very famous handicraft of the state along with woolen carpets, etc. People from across the country and even the outskirts come visit here to take home some of the most unique styled carpets, curtains, shawls, stoles, etc.
Surajkund Mela 2022 Dates
The Surajkund International Crafts Mela is an annual ten-day festival held in the month of February at Surajkund, Faridabad, Haryana, India. The Mela is organised by the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) in cooperation with the Haryana Tourism Department.
Due to the Omicron virus threat during the beginning month of this year, the state postponed this festival to March. This year, the Surajkund Mela 2022 will be held from 19th March 2022 till 4th April 2022.
Historic Significance of the Surajkund Mela
Launched first in 1981, the fair of Surajkund started as a small affair to promote the location as well as the nearby craftsmen and folklore to the people who used to visit the infamous Sun Pool situated along the Aravali Hills for a picnic weekend getaway.
The sun pool was basically a large amphitheater from centuries ago constructed by the King SurajPal.
During the late 1970s and early 80s, India saw a kind of technological advancement with several machineries being developed and imported to the country which were to take away the work of thousands of artisans from all over the country.
To tackle this, in 1981, the Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal had an idea to showcase the place as the place where craftsmen from across the country come together to showcase their age old handcraft designs, share the cultural stories and promote their folklore in the form of cultural performances. And basically to save the handmade craft of India from extinction.
Although it began as a small scale thing, slowly it started to get recognized by many people across India and outside it. Foreigners started to come to the Surajkund Mela for being a part of a celebration of the Indian culture and craft. In 2013, the fair of Surajkund was made into the world renowned “Largest International Crafts Mela“.
This fair or this festival celebrates what India has always been – a celebration of different cultures and colors and stories.
Features of the Surajkund International Crafts Mela
Now that we know the backstory of this beautiful Surajkund Mela 2022, let us talk about what it has in store if you decide on indulging in it this time of the year.
The Surajkund International Crafts Mela is a beautiful collaboration of the Haryana tourism department with thousands of talented craftsmen and artisans from all round the country.
What you will get to experience when you happen to visit this cultural festival, is many different colors, folk dances, cultural performances along with the major role of the hand crafted and hand-designed goods presented before you.
Let’s talk about the several features of the Surajkund Mela –
- Handcrafted designs and goods showcasing the artistic values and historical significance from different corners of the country.
- Colorful, vibrant and memorable entertainment with dance performances, puppet shows, singing, etc.
- Delicious food from different cultures to try out and get mesmerized with the diverse nature of our country and delicacies.
- Many photographic opportunities with the vibrant colors and unique shops and amusement zones.
- Great rides and fun activities at the Amusement Zone.
- The amazing 15-20 minutes helicopter ride through the exciting landscape of the Aravali Hills.
The fair could be well worth your time and money as you visit here – alone, with friends or family. It is a beautiful place, a trending event and a marvelous opportunity for our culture to be promoted across the world.
Things to Do at the Surajkund Mela 2022
- Enjoy Shopping the Diverse Cultural Handicrafts
Shopping is one of the most attractive factor in all kinds of fairs around the world. Surajkund Mela is no different. And with so many handcrafted designer outfits, colorful and vibrant showpieces and incredible décor items, who wouldn’t want to shop a little something and take home.
- Enjoy the Delicious and Diverse Cuisine of India
Surajkund Mela has plenty for the foodies around. If you’re not into much of the cultural stuff, just come here for the food! The cuisines are diverse and give out the best from different states of the country. From mouth watering delicacies from far north of our nation to the stretched out southern parts. It is an awesome opportunity for foodies, food enthusiasts, food blogger, etc.
- Enjoy the Cultural Performances from the Theme State
Watching and indulging in the beautiful cultural dance and similar performances make the fair a much more exciting event for the people coming here. Watch through the culture and folklore depicted beautifully through the local Jammu and Kashmiri performers on the Surajkund Mela 2022.
- Have fun at the incredible Amusement Zone with large rides and swings
A fair is not a fair without the rides, don’t you think so? There’s something missing if you happen to visit any fair and there aren’t any rides. Surajkund mela has them and they can be enjoyed by kids as well as for adults. You can experience the rollercoasters, ferris wheel and other interesting rides at the fair.
- Do not forget to take the infamous Helicopter Ride
One of the most interesting element of the fair is the Helicopter Ride. It costs approximately somewhere around INR 2000 to 2500 per person. You can see a slight change in the prices every year but the range remains same. You can enjoy the 8 to 10 minutes outstanding helicopter ride and have a bird’s eye view of the fair and surrounding areas.
Other Important Things to Know about the Surajkund Mela 2022
Timings – 10:30 AM to 08:30 PM
Entry Ticket Charges – Weekdays – INR 120 per person | Weekends – INR 180 per person
*Once the fair dates come near, the tickets can be booked through various event booking platforms online like BookMyShow, etc.
Official Website – Surajkund International Crafts Mela (Faridabad)
Location – Surajkund, Haryana
How to Reach – Surajkund is situated near Faridabad in Haryana. It is at a distance of less than 50 kilometers from Delhi and 40 kilometers from Gurgaon (Gurugram). The transport options are vivid – cabs, buses, metro.
Distance from New Delhi Railway Station – Approx. 25 kilometers
Distance from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi – Approx. 24 kilometers
Conclusion
The Surajkund International crafts mela is the largest crafts fair in the world and deserves to be promoted and informed to people across the globe about the features and history of it. I hope you liked this short post on the fair and have your answers about the things you need to know about the mela.
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That’s All Folks!
