Surajkund Mela continues to draw sizable crowd

By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, FEB 4

The 27th Surajkund International Crafts Mela  continues to attract a large number of visitors as artistes and craftspersons from 20 countries have showcased some of the finest handlooms and handicrafts at the Mela. At the work huts of Namibia, women from this tiny African nation can be seen crafting cane baskets, leather shoes and earthen pots. Then there is memorabilia and literature of the country that throws light on the culture of the country. Pretty cane containers from Rwanda and black and green stone animal figurines from Zambia are eye-catching.

          The work huts from Thailand have something that every woman would like to lap up – silken stoles and scarves, ceramics decoration items, incense sticks, floating candles and a host of accessories. Artisans from Bhutan and Pakistan, under the aegis of SAARC Business Association of Home Base Workers, are displaying woven handbags, wall hangings and an assortment of products like kurtas, pillow covers and stoles. From Nepal, there are stoles and scarves made from wild nettle found exclusively in the Alpine region of the Himalayan nation.

The presence of Sri Lanka in the Mela is prominent with a number of stalls from the island country. This includes beautiful inlay work paintings by artist Rohith, masks carved out from timber of a tree that offers cure for different ailments by K. Susanta Kumara and G.Y. Ajamtha Rohini, and stone and coconut utensils brought in by Saman Renuka Wijesiri and K.H.H Wijayaratne.

Also the major highlight of the day was the face painting competition held for school students in junior and senior category. In junior category, Prakriti Bansal and Arti Sharma of Ashoka Memorial Public School, Faridabad, Harshita and Meenakshi of Government Girls Senior Secondary NH-5, Faridabad and Neelam and Kajal of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, NH-5, Faridabad, won the first, second and third prizes respectively.

In the senior category, Shrishti Geeta and Deeksha Manchanda of Bal Niketan Senior Secondary School, NH-3 Faridabad, Aliya Khan and Reema Chauhan of Ashoka Memorial Public School, Faridabad and Lekh Raj and Ankit of Sanatan Dharam Senior Secondary School, Faridabad, bagged the first, second and third prizes respectively. Folk dances were also performed by students of Aravali International Senior Secondary School, Faridabad and Bansi Vidya Niketan Senior Secondary School Ballabgarh.

In the evening, the Natyashala was resonating with the all-time hit songs sung by Padamjeet Sehrawat to entertain the people. Tomorrow it will be a Punjabi evening by singer Rinku Kalia of Sa Re Ga Ma fame at the same venue.

Haryana Excise and Taxation Minister, Mrs Kiran Chaudhry and ADGP, Haryana Vigilance Mr. R.C. Misra, were among the dignitaries who visited the Mela today.