A view of huge crowd at Surajkund Mela.
Faridabad (Haryana), February 11, 2013: The 27th Surajkund International Crafts Mela has created a history with the highest footfall recorded for a single day at 1 lakh 42 thousand.
A new milestone was reached on Sunday crossing all previous footfall records.
The soaring popularity of the Mela can be judged by the increasing number of visitors every year. The year 1989 had a footfall of mere 1.75 lakhs while the year 2010 saw a whooping 7.54 lakhs of visitors in the Mela. Year 2011 saw a 20 per cent increase in the number of visitors as compared to 2010 and over the last couple of years, the numbers have been escalating.
The success of Surajkund Crafts Mela is credited to the availability of modern amenities of safe drinking water, clean environment, high maintenance of law and order, clean and hygienic public conveniences and efficient transport facilities with the due efforts of policing and security agencies, district administration and Mela Authority.
The area of the Mela has been significantly reclaimed, it now stands around 40 acres and ensuring smooth movement of visitors numbering around one lakh, 42,000 on a given day is not possible without coordinated efforts of the organisers, the Haryana Tourism.
Karnataka-the theme state of the Mela has lent a unique touch to the Mela with an impressive melange of exclusive crafts and vibrant performances. The Mela ambience has been another pull factor -- the various moods of sun and dances forms of peacock adorn every corner of Mela that have been widely admired by one and all. In tune with the tradition of Haryana Tourism that has its resorts named after birds.
Surajkund Crafts Mela has also embodied cultural amalgamation of various countries. The Mela has gone international this year with the participation of 20 countries. The Mela has been enriched by various foreign cultural troupes.
The Mela boasts of dedicated fan followers who visit the Mela every year and witness the spontaneous and spectacular celebration of Indian folk and culture. Tourists from all over the world flock the Mela to witness some of the finest crafts and savour the delicacies of hot and spicy Indian cuisine. Bagful of purchases and smiles on faces has been the essence of the Mela.