SURAJKUND MELA

A Vibrant Tapestry of Culture and Heritage

- Nayab Singh Saini

The 38th edition of the Surajkund International Crafts Mela, the gala annual event held at Surajkund in Faridabad district of Haryana which had the curtains coming down on February 23, 2025, will be marked for some first-time-firsts.

One, building up further on its international status, the Mela this year attracted tourists from as many as 51 countries of the world besides artists, artefacts and cuisines from all over India, as well as from some foreign countries.

Two, the footfall at the Mela this year set a new record at 18 lakh visitors, according to the Tourism Minister, Dr. Arvind Sharma. It surpasses the previous best of 13 lakh logged in 2024. It had to be so, for, the globally acclaimed and largest crafts fair in the world is truly a magnificent celebration of India's rich heritage. Besides, it is a cultural extravaganza that showcases India's rich diversity through a mix of traditional arts, crafts, music, dance, and culinary delights.

Three, for the first time, two states--Odisha and Madhya Pradesh--- jointly participated as Theme States, showcasing their rich and diverse cultural heritage.

Four, the event proudly represented BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) constituents as Partner Nations. These countries include India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, all of which share cultural similarities.