It is that time of the year that all handicraft enthusiasts await. The Surajkund Craft Mela 2023 is around the corner. It usually takes place between the 1st to 15th of February every year. Surajkund 2021 was cancelled due to the pandemic. Much to the respite of crafts lovers, Surajkund Crafts Mela 2022 was held albeit later from 19th March to 4th April 2022.
Surajkund Mela Authority organises the Surajkund Mela in collaboration with the Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture, External Affairs, Department of Tourism, Government of Haryana, and Haryana Tourism Corporation. The dates for the 36th edition of Surajkund Crafts Mela, 2023 have been announced, and here is a curtain raiser.
Dates for Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2023
The Surajkund Crafts Mela is around the corner. It is to be held from 3rd to 19th February 2023.
Timing for Surajkund Mela 2023
The fair starts at 10.30 a.m. and is on till 8.30 p.m.
Where is Surajkund Mela held?
Surajkund is a beautiful spot in the city of Faridabad in Haryana. Faridabad is adjacent to Delhi, about 8-10 km from the city’s southern parts.
The ruins of a water reservoir here date back to the 10th century. It is said that the Tomar dynasty ruler Maharaja Suraj was a devotee of the Sun God. He built a temple in an ode to the Suraj or the Sun. A water reservoir, as is often found in temple complexes. was also built. Given the remains of the water reservoir, this place is called Surajkund, Kund meaning a reservoir.
How to Reach Surajkund Mela
The most convenient mode to reach Surajkund Mela is to drive or hire a cab. There are multiple parking lots designated for the fair. Make sure, you park at the Mela parking area and not any random open spaces.
Additionally, during the fair time, special buses run from ISBT, Shivaji Stadium, Gurgaon, and Faridabad that would take you to the Surajkund Mela,
Surajkund by Metro
The nearest metro stations are Sarai Metro Station and Badarpur Metro Station, both on the Violet Line of the Delhi Metro. Autorickshaws are available at the metro stations to take you to Surajkund.
Surajkund Craft Mela 2023 Highlights
Shopping at Surajkund
Surajkund Mela is primarily a treasure trove of all things that can be considered crafty. Unlike many other crafts fairs, or even the crafts section of the India International Trade Fair (IITF), the Surajkund Mela is about handmade products or handloom fabrics.
The Mela sees huge participation not only from artisans in various corners of India but also from many foreign countries. In the year 2013, the fair was upgraded to international standards and called Surajkund International Crafts Mela.
India produces more than 95% of handloom textiles in the world. You get to see a very rich collection of handloom items here. These are woven, printed, and embroidered. Saris, running fabrics, and stitched garments for men, women, and children are a big draw. Silver, beads and tribal ornaments, and accessories such as hats and handbags are also very popular here.
Surajkund is also the spot to buy all kinds of Indian footwear like jootis, Kolhapuri chappals, nagras, etc. Leather artists, of late, experiment a lot in this area and come up with amazing variety.
The same applies to the home décor segment. Beautiful bedspreads, table covers, mats, cushions, pillow covers, and curtains in many design styles from all corners of India are available here. Such items add a certain panache to your home. The collection of rugs here, not only covers India but all corners of the world including Turkey and Istanbul.
Another item that we look out for is light furniture. Mostly made via traditional art forms, the designs are very contemporary and something that can be easily accommodated in a small apartment. Offbeat mirrors, stools, pouffes and clothes horses, and small shelves made with bamboo, jute, and cast iron have added a crafty twist to our homes.
Surajkund Mela 2023 Theme State
While all states of India participate in the fair, anyone state is selected as a focal state, and its art, crafts, and culture are especially highlighted. The theme state this year is collectively the whole of the North Eastern Region of India. We, therefore, expect to see a lot of crafts, food, biodiversity, and culture from Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal, and Sikkim.
Surjakund Mela 2023 Partner Country
Just like the focus state, a single country is specially chosen as the focal point or partner country. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will participate as the ‘Partner nation’ and showcase its crafts, culture, art forms, and cuisines at the Surajukund International Crafts Fair 2023.
Food at Surajkund Mela
If crafts shopping tires you, there are many food courts here. Cuisines from various states, including offbeat and unheard items can be tasted at Surjakund. Tea, coffee, coconut water, and many soft beverages like shikanji, soda, and so on can be had along with the food. Water booths are placed at various points for filling the bottles and hydrating.
Our favourite food here is Kachori from Rajasthan food outlet and Dabheli from Maharashtra, of course with a cup of thick milky tea, typically what we call chai in North India.
Cultural Performances at Surajkund Mela
Hundreds of artists from India and abroad assemble during the Surajkund Mela. There are many amphitheaters called Chaupal in the fairground where scheduled programs of music, dance, and martial arts are held during fair timings. Classical concerts are held in the evenings.
In addition, many folk dance groups from Gujarat, Rajasthan, or Chhattisgarh break into impromptu dances in empty spaces. The fair visitors often join in. This completes the carnival mood.
Tickets for Surajkund Mela 2023
Tickets for Surajkund Mela are available online as well as at the counters on the fairground.
If you want to avoid the queues at the fairground, you can purchase tickets online on ________. There is a 50% rebate on entry tickets for differently-abled persons, senior citizens, and serving defence personnel and ex-servicemen.
Pro-tips
Now that we have prepped you, do visit the Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2023 like a pro. There is something for everyone here.
- Surajkund Mela is an outdoor event. Wear appropriate clothes. Carry a jacket that you can remove or put on easily. Sturdy footwear helps.
- The Mela ground is a hill with undulating topography. It may be difficult to navigate for people with mobility issues.
- Although there is adequate lighting in the evening, given the density of stalls, daylight helps. If you wish to check out the products here, we suggest you make the most of the sunlight.
- Expect much heavier traffic during weekends.
- The weekend footfalls are many times higher than the week. If you are really keen to enjoy this event, try to come on a weekday.
- Surajkund Mela is hugely popular among visitors and locals alike. If you buy tickets online, you would surely be saving time.
“Chalo Surajkund” as they say.
