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Stage set for Surajkund Mela

Staff Reporter

Besides SAARC nations, Thailand too taking part this year

NEW DELHI: Billed as "the wholesome feel of India", the 21st annual Surajkund Crafts Mela opens in neighbouring Haryana on Thursday. The 15-day mela will see participation of 320 crafts persons, most of them State and National award winners, besides several from the SAARC countries.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Haryana Minister of State for Tourism and Forests Kiran Choudhry said the highlight of this year's event would be the participation of Thailand. Andhra Pradesh is the theme State, she added.

Jugglers, drummers, puppet shows, camel safaris, kite flying and folk dances will be presented during the day, while the evenings promise to be a culturally rich affair. South Africa's "Tribhangi" dance will come alive at the Natyashala in the Surajkund complex.

Dance recitals

Three Padma Shri winners -- dancers Saroja Vaidyanathan, Shovana Narayan and Shobha Naidu -- will also perform at the Natyashala. Diwakar Sharma of "Little Champ" fame will bring the stage alive with his songs.

"Another feature of the mela will be a painting workshop organised to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of Lord Buddha's Mahapirnirvana," said the Minister.

Ms. Choudhry said there were plans to take the mela abroad.

A representative from Qatar will be attending the mela and there are chances that the Surajkund mela will go to Doha.

The Minister also said that three other States -- Maharashtra, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh -- are going to replicate the Surajkund mela model.

"Soon the festival is going to be a circuit of four States," added Ms. Choudhry.

The mela, organised by the Surajkund Mela Authority comprising Haryana Tourism and the Union Ministries of Tourism and Textiles, will also see exporters-craftsmen meetings to explore the potential and possibility of export of traditional goods.

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