Foreign delegates from Burkina Faso strike a pose with folk dancers.
Faridabad (Haryana), February 12, 2013: Tuesday marked the Sri Lanka Day celebrations at the 27th Surajkund International Crafts Mela. H.E. Shri Prasad Kariyawasam, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, visited the Mela and appreciated the efforts of the Haryana government, Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in hosting such a big event.
While addressing the media, Kariyawasam said, “Craftspersons of Sri Lanka and India are benefitted by participating in Surajkund Mela and Mela is a benchmark for economic development of the participants of the two countries.” Sri Lanka has been taking part in the Mela since 2008, Kariyawasam added saying, “Surajkund Mela has grown from strength to strength and it is very neatly organised and best presented Mela.”
HE Kariyawasam stressed that there is definite connection of Sri Lanka and India in terms of cultural heritage and went on to spell that the Sri Lankan civilization originated from India and the Buddhist travel of these two neighbouring countries stands in recognition of this truth.
Sri Lankan Day celebrations at 27th Surajkund International Crafts Mela was an attempt to encourage other countries to participate and be part of this major event in years to come.
“The Mela has been specially chosen as the venue to celebrate Sri Lanka Day,” told Kariyawasam, “This Mela offers a good cultural exchange between people of both friendly countries, and now we too will be replicating the Mela in Sri Lanka from this year, to be known as National Crafts Fair.”
Vijai Vardhan, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Haryana, shared his views on this occasion, “Both the countries have cultural similarities. A circuit is being planned for Buddhists in Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar, which should bring more Sri Lankan tourists to our country.”
His Excellency also witnessed the performance of Sri Lankan folk dance troupes at the Chaupal during the day and he was thrilled to see the jam packed audience enjoy the foot-tapping music and dance of Sri Lankan troupe.
Sri Lankan folk dance troupes also performed at the Chaupal during the day to jam-packed audiences.
With growing number of foreign participation and Valentine’s Day round the corner, Surajkund Mela is a must visit event, as it offers some interesting gifts options like Taj Mahal replicas, heart-shaped stuffed toys, paper flowers and wooden artifacts. Hamid, a Rajasthani artist, said, “I have made these Taj Mahal replicas, hoping that today’s youth would find them interesting and unique.”
A stall from Thailand has got special roses made from an organic fabric, which emit sweet fragrance when water drops are sprinkled on these. Violins made out of sandalwood are another option catching the attention of the youth.
Bhojpuri artiste, Malini Awasthi, entertained the audiences with her distinctive style of singing on Monday evening at Natyashala. She is a disciple of Padma Vibhushan Girija Devi Ji and one of the favourite singers of Bharat Ratna, Lata Mangeshkar. The audiences were mesmerised by Awasthi’s style, as the singer struck a chord with them through her folk songs and famous Bollywood tunes, which were done in her typical Thumari style of music.
Her famous numbers included ‘Raliya barren piya ko liye jaye re’ and `Dil Mera Muft Ka’, which were an instant hit with the capacity crowd at Natyashala.
Tuesday evening saw a fashion show being staged at Natyashala, with khadi being the fabric, which was crafted into traditional outfits that 16 models flaunted on the ramp. Surajkund Mela Authority took special initiative to popularise Khadi during the fortnight long event with charkha took the centre stage to showcase the importance of khadi in our society. Fashion show with khadi costumes especially designed for ramp models was one such attempt to make khadi take its place again in the Gandhian country.